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Political Finance Database

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Serbia

2016

2018

2023

Bans and limits on private income

Public funding

Regulations of spending

Reporting, oversight and sanctions

Question	Value
1. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to political parties?	Code Yes
2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates?	Code Yes
3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties?	Code No
4. Is there a ban on corporate donations to candidates?	Code No Comment Allcontributions must be channeled through the nominating political party.
5. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to political parties?	Code Yes
6. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to candidates?	Code Yes
7. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to political parties?	Code Yes
8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates?	Code Yes
9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties?	Code Yes Comment Ban applies to donations from corporations with partial state ownership and with most types of public contracts. Source ARTICLE 12 PROHIBITION ON FINANCINGIt is prohibited to finance a political entity by foreign states; foreign natural persons and legal entities, except international political associations; anonymous donors, public institutions, public enterprises, companies and entrepreneurs engaged in services of general interest, institutions and companies with state capital share, other organizations discharging administrative authority; trade unions, associations and other non-profit organizations, churches and religious communities; gaming industry; importers, exporters and manufacturers of excise goods, legal entities and entrepreneurs with due, and unsettled, public revenue obligations, unless set forth otherwise by this Law.Donations from international political associations may not be in money.Financing of political entity by a natural person or legal entity engaged in activities of general interest pursuant to contract with organs of the Republic of Serbia, autonomous province and local government and public services founded by them is prohibited throughout the validity of such contract and for a period of two years subsequent to termination of contractual relations. (Source: Law on Financing Political Activities)
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates?	Code Yes Comment Ban applies to corporations with partial state ownership and for corporations with public contracts throughout the validity of the contract and for a period of two years subsequent to termination of contractual relations. Source ARTICLE 12 PROHIBITION ON FINANCINGIt is prohibited to finance a political entity by foreign states; foreign natural persons and legal entities, except international political associations; anonymous donors, public institutions, public enterprises, companies and entrepreneurs engaged in services of general interest, institutions and companies with state capital share, other organizations discharging administrative authority; trade unions, associations and other non-profit organizations, churches and religious communities; gaming industry; importers, exporters and manufacturers of excise goods, legal entities and entrepreneurs with due, and unsettled, public revenue obligations, unless set forth otherwise by this Law.Donations from international political associations may not be in money.Financing of political entity by a natural person or legal entity engaged in activities of general interest pursuant to contract with organs of the Republic of Serbia, autonomous province and local government and public services founded by them is prohibited throughout the validity of such contract and for a period of two years subsequent to termination of contractual relations. (Source: Law on Financing Political Activities)
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties?	Code Yes Comment Ban applies to donations from corporations with partial state ownership and with most types of public contracts. Source ARTICLE 12 PROHIBITION ON FINANCINGIt is prohibited to finance a political entity by foreign states; foreign natural persons and legal entities, except international political associations; anonymous donors, public institutions, public enterprises, companies and entrepreneurs engaged in services of general interest, institutions and companies with state capital share, other organizations discharging administrative authority; trade unions, associations and other non-profit organizations, churches and religious communities; gaming industry; importers, exporters and manufacturers of excise goods, legal entities and entrepreneurs with due, and unsettled, public revenue obligations, unless set forth otherwise by this Law.Donations from international political associations may not be in money.Financing of political entity by a natural person or legal entity engaged in activities of general interest pursuant to contract with organs of the Republic of Serbia, autonomous province and local government and public services founded by them is prohibited throughout the validity of such contract and for a period of two years subsequent to termination of contractual relations. (Source: Law on Financing Political Activities)
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates?	Code Yes Comment Ban applies to corporations with partial state ownership and for corporations with public contracts throughout the validity of the contract and for a period of two years subsequent to termination of contractual relations. Source ARTICLE 12 PROHIBITION ON FINANCINGIt is prohibited to finance a political entity by foreign states; foreign natural persons and legal entities, except international political associations; anonymous donors, public institutions, public enterprises, companies and entrepreneurs engaged in services of general interest, institutions and companies with state capital share, other organizations discharging administrative authority; trade unions, associations and other non-profit organizations, churches and religious communities; gaming industry; importers, exporters and manufacturers of excise goods, legal entities and entrepreneurs with due, and unsettled, public revenue obligations, unless set forth otherwise by this Law.Donations from international political associations may not be in money.Financing of political entity by a natural person or legal entity engaged in activities of general interest pursuant to contract with organs of the Republic of Serbia, autonomous province and local government and public services founded by them is prohibited throughout the validity of such contract and for a period of two years subsequent to termination of contractual relations. (Source: Law on Financing Political Activities)
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate?	Code Yes Comment Public media and state officials must be neutral
14. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period?	Code Yes, for both natural and legal persons Source ARTICLE 10 MAXIMUM VALUE OF DONATIONMaximum value of donation on at annual level that a natural person may give to political entities for regular work shall not exceed 20 average monthly salaries.Maximum value of donation at annual level that a legal entity may give to political entities for regular work shall not exceed 200 average monthly salaries.Donations exceeding at annual level one average monthly salary are published.A political entity is required to publish each donation referred in paragraph 3 of this article on its web site within eight days from the date the value of donation has exceeded the amount of one monthly average salary. (Source: Law on Financing Political Activities)
15. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period, what is the limit?	Code Annual limit is 20 average monthly salaries (person); 200 average monthly salaries (legal entity)
16. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election?	Code Yes, for both natural and legal persons Source ARTICLE 22 FINANCING ELECTION CAMPAIGN FROM PRIVATE SOURCESA political entity may raise funds from private sources for election campaign costs.Natural persons and legal entities may give donations in a single calendar year in which election are held, in addition to donations for regular work, also for election campaign costs up to maximum stipulated amount at annual level specified in article 10, paragraphs 1 and 2 hereof, regardless of the number of election campaigns in a calendar year. (Source: Law on Financing Political Activities)
17. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election, what is the limit?	Code Limit is 20 average monthly salaries annually/person (200 for legal entities) Comment Limit is per calendar year in which elections are held, regardless of the number of elections.
18. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate?	Code Yes, for both natural and legal persons Source ARTICLE 22 FINANCING ELECTION CAMPAIGN FROM PRIVATE SOURCESA political entity may raise funds from private sources for election campaign costs.Natural persons and legal entities may give donations in a single calendar year in which election are held, in addition to donations for regular work, also for election campaign costs up to maximum stipulated amount at annual level specified in article 10, paragraphs 1 and 2 hereof, regardless of the number of election campaigns in a calendar year. (Source: Law on Financing Political Activities)
19. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate, what is the limit?	Code Limit is 20 average monthly salaries annually/person (200 for legal entities)
20. Is there a limit on the amount a candidate can contribute to their own election campaign?
21. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to political parties?
22. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to candidates?
23. Is there a ban on political parties engaging in commercial activities?
24. Is there a ban on political parties taking loans in relation to election campaigns?
25. Is there a ban on candidates taking loans in relation to election campaigns?
26. Is there a ban on donors to political parties/candidates participating in public tender/procurement processes?
27. Are there provisions requiring donations to go through the banking system?

Question	Value
28. Are there provisions for direct public funding to political parties?	Code Yes, both regularly and in relation to campaigns
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding?	Code Representation in elected body Share of votes in previous election Participation in election
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding?	Code Proportional to votes received Comment Funds allocated as flat rate by votes received, though the number of votes up to 5% of valid votes is multiplied with a quotient of 1.5, and the number of votes over 5% of valid votes of all voters with a coefficient of 1.
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)?	Code Ongoing party activities Comment Provision is vague, referring to 'other similar activities'.
32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?	Code Yes
33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?	Code Equal
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates?	Code Yes Source Broadcasting Act
35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding?	Code Political entities can benefit equally from various 'services and goods'. Comment Political entities can benefit equally from various 'services and goods'.
36. Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties tied to gender equality among candidates?	Code Yes Comment Indirect provision - The election Law demands that parties have at least one third of candidates of each gender. Parties not complying could not participate election processes at all and consequently cannot obtain state funding.
37. Are there provisions for other financial advantages to encourage gender equality in political parties?	Code No

Question	Value
38. Is there a ban on vote buying?	Code Yes
39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend?	Code No
40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit?	Code Not applicable
41. Are there limits on the amount a candidate can spend?	Code No
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit?	Code Not applicable
43. Are there limits on the amount that third parties can spend on election campaign activities?
44. Are there limits on traditional media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns?
45. Are there limits on online media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns?
46. Do any other restrictions on online media advertisement (beyond limits) exist?

Question	Value
47. Do political parties have to report regularly on their finances?	Code Yes
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances?	Code Yes
49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances?	Code Yes
50. Do third parties have to report on election campaign finances?
51. Is information in reports from political parties and/or candidates to be made public?	Code Yes
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors?	Code Yes
53. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized income?
54. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized spending?
55. Which institution(s) receives financial reports from political parties and/or candidates?	Code Special agency for political finance Comment Anti-corruption Agency
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations?	Code Auditing agency Special agency for political finance Comment Anti-corruption Agency and State Audit Institution
57. What power is granted to the institution(s) responsible for examining reports and/or investigating violations?
58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions?	Code Fines Prison Forfeiture Loss of public funding

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