Serbian Parliament Begins Debate on Amendments to Four Electoral Laws

National Assembly of Serbia (BETAPHOTO/National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia/Pedja Vuckovic)

On May 12 Serbian MPs began a debate on amendments to four electoral laws, proposed by ruling Serbian Progressive Party MP Miroslav Petrasinovic while the debate will resume on May 13.

Parliament is debating supplements to the Law on Electing the President of the Republic, amendments and supplements to the Law on Local Elections, amendments and supplements to the Law on Electing MPs and amendments and supplements to the Law on the Constitutional Court. 

Petrasinovic said that the laws were prepared in accordance with the recommendations of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and that Human Rights (ODIHR) and that the changes were supported during the debate by the ruling Serbian Progressive Party's coalition partners -- the Party of United Pensioners of Serbia the United Serbia and Social Democratic Party of Serbia.

On the other side part of the opposition and expert public have described the changes as cosmetic and believe that they do not prevent the abuse of the electoral process for which they accuse the authorities.

They say that the ODIHR's key recommendations like banning the campaigning of officials, banning the abuse of public resources in campaigns and recommendations on the role of the media and the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media were not taken up by the authorities.

Commenting on the criticism, Minister of State Administration and Local Self-Rule Snezana Paunovic told the RTS public broadcaster that these subjects will be dealt with in other bills that are in the works.