Serbian Speaker: Parliament to Consider Amendments to Four Electoral Laws in May

Ana Brnabic (BETAPHOTO/MILAN OBRADOVIC)

Ana Brnabic, the speaker of the Serbian parliament, said on April 29 that amendments to four laws based on the recommendations of an observer mission of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights would be on the parliament's agenda in May.

She told Pink TV that public discussion of the legislation would be held in Belgrade, Nis, Kragujevac and Novi Sad after the International Workers' Day holidays. According to her, the National Assembly will likely pass the legislation by the end of May, after which the government will strive to meet the remaining recommendations from ODIHR.

"We have been waiting for ODIHR's response to the proposed amendments to the Law on financing political activity since March. It is important legislation as it places a limit on campaign spending," Brnabic said, adding that the ruling coalition had been working since 2019 to improve election conditions and apply OSCE Office recommendations.

The Serbian parliament has published to its website the drafts of the four pieces of legislation based on ODIHR recommendations, issued after parliamentary elections that took place on Dec. 17, 2023. The legislation addresses the election of members of parliament, the election of the president of the Republic, local elections and the Constitutional Court. The official sponsor of the amendments is Serbian Progressive Party MP Miroslav Perasinovic.