According to an analysis conducted by the Network for Affirmation of NGO Sector – MANS, several state institutions violate the restriction on the use of budget funds during the election campaign. The Employment Agency of Montenegro (ZZZCG) takes the lead among the institutions by spending 1.1 million euros more in August than the six-month average spending of that state institution.
Article 38 of the Law on Financing of Political Entities and Election Campaigns restricts the use of state funds in such a way that state institutions “shall be prohibited from monthly spending higher than the average monthly spending in the previous six months from the day of calling of the elections until the day of holding of the elections.”
The restriction on the spending of funds from the budget before the elections was introduced as a response to the widespread practice of certain state institutions which use budget funds on various grounds precisely during the election campaign, in order to influence the freedom of choice of voters.
The data analysed by MANS in the case of the Employment Agency of Montenegro show that the average monthly spending of this institution was around four million euros, while in August, the Agency paid around one million more from its account, i.e. 5.16 million euros. The largest part of the increase related to other transfers to natural persons, where the Agency paid as much as 781 thousand euros in August, which is 329 thousand more than the monthly spending of ZZZCG from this budget item.
During August, the Ministry of the Interior spent as much as 500,000 euros more than the monthly average, and the biggest increase in spending in the month of calling of the local elections was on the item of net earnings. Thus, in August, the MoI paid net wages in the amount of 4.3 million euros, which is nearly 380 thousand euros more than the legally defined average during six months before the calling of the elections.
Nature and Environment Protection Agency of Montenegro exceeded the monthly average by 365 thousand euros, and the largest overrun within the budget of this institution was recorded from the budget item – consulting services, studies and projects.
The Institute for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions also recorded an increase of 334,000 euros, while in August, the Ministry of Culture and Media paid 331,000 more than the monthly average. This ministry records the largest overrun from the monthly spending average when it comes to transfers to natural persons and transfers to municipalities.
During August, the Ministry of Defence spent 200,000 more than the monthly average, and the biggest overrun was recorded in transfers to natural persons and one-off social welfare.
In August, the Parliament of Montenegro exceeded the average monthly spending by around 100 thousand euros, as did the Administration for Food Safety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Affairs, which exceeded the legal limit by 117 thousand euros.
Out of state institutions that violated the limit on the use of state funds, MANS also recorded the Institute of Education (around 40,000 euros), the State Archives of Montenegro (around 28,000 euros), and the Prosecutor’s Council (around 28,000 euros).
The Law on Financing of Political Entities and Election Campaigns prescribes fines for non-compliance with the legal limit on the use of state funds during the election campaign. Article 68 of this law prescribes a fine ranging from 200 to 2,000 euros for the responsible person in a state body in which the excess of monthly spending is registered.
As early as tomorrow, MANS will submit initiatives to the Agency for Prevention of Corruption for the initiation of proceedings for violations of the Law on Financing of Political Entities and Election Campaigns.
MANS
