Bosnia's Election Commission levies record fines on ruling parties ahead of October vote

Bosnia's Central Election Commission handed out record fines totalling more than €100,000 during a Thursday session in Sarajevo, targeting major parties for premature campaigning and the illegal exploitation of public resources ahead of the October 4 elections. The Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), the dominant Bosnian Serb party under Milorad Dodik, was hit hardest with fines of roughly €41,900 for the party and €4,600 for Dodik personally, bringing its total to €52,700.

Other sanctions included €13,000 for the Safe Srpska Movement coalition led by Drasko Stanivukovic, €8,700 for the Social Democratic Party, €7,200 for United Srpska, and additional penalties for parties in the Federation such as the SDA and a Croat coalition. Sanja Vulic, a state parliament member, was fined €4,100 for premature media statements. Dario Jovanovic, project manager of the election-monitoring NGO Pod Lupom, cautioned that parties consider these fines a minor, predictable expense and will continue to leverage state budgets for electoral advantage.