MANS analysis shows that several bodies and public institutions of the Capital City Podgorica violated the limit on the use of budget funds during the election campaign. The biggest budget overruns in Podgorica had the Common Affairs Service, which in September exceeded the monthly average by more than 52 thousand euros, and the Rescue and Protection Service, which in August spent as much as 32 thousand euros more than the monthly average in the last six months.
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.”
This restriction was introduced in the law as a response to a widespread practice of certain state institutions using budget funds in order to gain an advantage for a certain political party on the ground during the election campaign, and to influence the free will of voters.
When it comes to overrun in August, apart from the Rescue and Protection Service, the monthly limit was also violated by the Civil Bureau with 29,000 euros spent above the average, the PI Day Center for Children and Youth with Developmental Disabilities with 23,000 euros, the Property Directorate with 17,000 euros more than the six-month average, and the Secretariat for Communal Affairs, which spent nearly 16 thousand euros more in August.
The Protection and Rescue Service exceeded the six-month average during the month of September as well, when nearly 16,000 euros more was paid out, and apart from this body, the legal limit was also violated by the Bureau for Support to Business Community with nearly 14,000 euros more paid than the average, again the Secretariat for Communal Affairs with additional 11 thousand euros spent above the average, and the Public Institution for accommodation, rehabilitation and resocialization of users of psychoactive substances with ten thousand euros more spent.
The analysis conducted by MANS shows that the largest overruns related to increased payments of net wages and other fees, construction of local infrastructure, maintenance of facilities and costs of promotion and advertising.
MANS previously pointed out that a similar trend of increased budget spending was recorded at the state level as a continuation of the practice we witnessed before all election processes, which is a direct consequence of the lack of political will to properly apply the law, but also the absence of stronger control, primarily by the Agency for Prevention of Corruption.
The Law on Financing of Political Entities and Election Campaigns prescribes a fine ranging from 200 to 2000 euros for the responsible person in a state body in which the excess of monthly spending is registered.
MANS will report to the Agency for Prevention of Corruption all cases of exceeding the monthly expenditure that we have identified through the analysis, and request that full compliance with the Law on Financing of Political Entities and Election Campaigns be ensured.
MANS
