The UCC RS campaign was misused to promote SNSD candidates

TI BiH submitted an additional report to the CEC of BiH due to the abuse of the campaign of the UCC RS “Everyone under one roof” for the purpose of promoting the SNSD candidate. The UCC RS refused to provide information on the funds spent on the campaign and the procedures for procuring services for the creation and distribution of promotional materials.

Due to the evident abuse of the campaign of the University Clinical Center of RS ” Everyone under one roof ” for the purpose of promoting SNSD candidates in the upcoming elections, Transparency International in Bosnia and Herzegovina (TI BiH) submitted an additional report to the Central Election Commission of BiH. Namely, Milorad Dodik, Zeljka Cvijanovic, Dragan Bogdanic and Vlado Djajic, who are also SNSD candidates in the upcoming elections, are on numerous billboards and posters inviting citizens to the opening ceremony. In this way, the UCC RS conducts personal promotion of the party’s candidates during the election campaign, although funding for the campaign by public institutions is strictly prohibited.

TI BiH has previously sent a request for information to the UCC RS, requesting information on the funds spent for this campaign, as well as the procedures used to procure the creation and distribution of promotional materials. The UCC RS refused to provide data on the total costs of this campaign, citing the protection of third party commercial interests and a legal provision allowing the deadline to be extended by another 15 days. Notwithstanding this provision, which is often used to avoid providing information, the leadership of the UCC RS is obliged to inform citizens about the price of this advertising campaign, as well as the reasons why it includes the promotion of individual candidates in the upcoming elections. the number of billboards is a very significant asset.

Unfortunately, the UCC RS continues the practice of refusing to provide information on how it disposes of funds, bearing in mind that TIBIH has already won a lawsuit against the UCC RS in May this year for failing to submit data on public procurement. TI BiH once again reminds that public institutions, companies and institutions and funds of taxpayers are not the property of political parties, and that they will report any form of misuse of public resources for the purpose of the campaign to the competent institutions. TI BiH also invites citizens to report such abuses, as well as all abuses related to the election process, through the TI BiH Center for Legal Aid at 0800 55555 .

Press rls 21_09_2018