MANS: Several authorities of the Capital City increased spending in preparation for the elections

Several authorities and public institutions of the Capital City of Podgorica violated the limit on the use of budget funds during the election campaign, the Network for the Affirmation of the Non-Governmental Sector (MANS) announced.

"The biggest budget overruns in Podgorica were the Service for Joint Affairs, which in September exceeded the monthly average by more than 52 thousand euros, and the Protection and Rescue Service, which in August spent as much as 32 thousand euros more than the monthly average in the last half of the year." the analysis of MANS showed, as stated by that NGO.

They point out that Article 38 of the Law on the Financing of Political Entities and Election Campaigns limits the use of state funds, in such a way that state institutions "prohibit monthly spending greater than the average monthly spending in the previous six months from the day of the announcement to the day of the election."

MANS reminds that this restriction was introduced in the law in response to the "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 the voters.

"When it comes to overspending in August, apart from the Protection and Rescue Service, the monthly limit was also violated by the Civil Bureau with 29.000 spent above the average, the Day Care 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 September, when nearly 16.000 euros more were paid out, and apart from this body, the legal limit was also violated by the Secretariat for Business Community Support, with nearly 14 euros more paid than the average, again the Secretariat for communal services with another 11 thousand euros spent above the average, and the Public Institution for accommodation, rehabilitation and resocialization of users of psychoactive substances with more than ten thousand euros spent," MANS announced.

They said that the analysis they conducted shows that the biggest overruns related to increased payments of net wages and other benefits, construction of local infrastructure, maintenance of facilities and costs of promotion and advertising.

"MANS has previously indicated that a similar trend of increased budget spending is being recorded at the state level as a continuation of the practice we are witnessing before all election processes, which is a direct consequence of the lack of political will to adequately implement the law, as well as the absence of stronger control, primarily from by the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption," the NGO added.

They remind that the Law on Financing of Political Entities and Election Campaigns prescribes a fine in the amount of 200 to 2.000 euros for the responsible person in the state body in which the excess of monthly spending is registered.

"MANS will report all cases of exceeding monthly spending that we identified through analysis to the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption and request that full compliance with the Law on the Financing of Political Entities and Election Campaigns be ensured," the announcement concludes.