Audit revealed Denis Zvizdić committed financial malpractice

The Central Election Commission (CEC) of BiH at today's session initiated proceedings against 27 political parties due to a well-founded suspicion that they violated certain provisions of the Law on Financing of Political Parties and the Election Law of BiH, based on the audit findings of the financial reports of political parties for 2012, it was announced on the CEC website, reports the BiH news agency Patria.

Non-compliance with the Law on Financing of Political Parties was recorded for most parties, as was the finding for the People's Party Work for Betterment.

- The People's Party Work for Betterment violated the provisions of Article 8, Paragraph (1) of the Law on Financing of Political Parties, which was in force until December 4, 2012, because it was financed from prohibited contributions. The political party, namely its five (5) organizational units, obtained prohibited contributions by using business premises owned by municipalities under more favorable conditions or without paying rent - the report states.

It is stated that such a case was recorded in the Municipalities of Ilidža, Bihać, Tuzla, Zavidovići, and Ilijaš.

The same political party, disregarding the provisions of Article 29 of the Law on Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorist Activities ("Official Gazette of BiH", No. 53/09), made multiple cash transactions through its treasury exceeding 30,000.00 KM.

- The political party paid an amount of 85,000.00 KM in cash from its treasury to a natural person for the purchase of a passenger vehicle. Payments were made in the amount of 30,000.00 KM on March 20, 2012, and 55,000.00 KM on October 15, 2012.

The Party of Democratic Action violated the provisions of Article 11, Paragraph (1) and Paragraph (3) of the Law on Financing of Political Parties, which was in force until December 4, 2012.

- The audit found that the party reported income from the sale of a vehicle in the amount of 11,000.00 KM in the annual financial report for the Cantonal Board of the Party of Democratic Action Sarajevo. Upon reviewing the documentation, it was determined that the sold vehicle had a value of 8,730.78 KM on the day of sale, and that by selling it for 11,000.00 KM, the party made a profit of 2,269.22 KM from the sale. By incorrectly reporting, the party unnecessarily increased the party's income and expenses by 8,730.78 KM, thereby violating the provisions of Article 13, Paragraph (1) and Article 20 of the Rulebook - it is stated.

Incidentally, the Cantonal Board of SDA Sarajevo is chaired by Denis Zvizdić, who is close to Bakir Izetbegović, the Deputy President of SDA.

According to the auditors' findings, the Social Democratic Party of BiH issued business premises in Zenica, Vareš, and Bosanski Grahovo that are not owned by this party.

- In the period from January 1 to December 4, 2012, it generated income from rent in the amount of 31,629.24 KM, thereby violating the provisions of Article 3, Paragraph (1) of the then-valid Law on Financing of Political Parties - the CEC report states.

The only party whose operations were assessed as being fully in accordance with all legal regulations is the Alliance for a Better Future.

List of political parties against which proceedings have been initiated:

1) Bosnian-Herzegovinian Patriotic Party – Sefer Halilović

2) Democratic People's Alliance

3) Democratic People's Community of BiH

4) Croatian Democratic Union 1990

5) Croatian Peasant Party

6) Croatian Party of Rights BiH

7) HSS-NHI

8) Liberal Democratic Party of BiH

9) List for Bugojno

10) Progressive Democratic Party

11) People's Party Work for Betterment

12) Independent Democratic Party

13) Party of Democratic Progress

14) Political Organization Independent List – For My City

15) Alliance of Independent Social Democrats – SNSD – Milorad Dodik

16) Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina

17) Social Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina

18) Socialist Party

19) Serb Democratic Party

20) Serb Progressive Party

21) Serb Radical Party “Dr. Vojislav Šešelj”

22) Serb Radical Party of Republika Srpska

23) Party of Democratic Action

24) Party of Youth for Change

25) Party of Social Security of Serb Veterans

26) Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina

27) Visionary Democratic Party

You can view the detailed CEC report here.