CRTA’s election observation mission withdraws all of its 120 long-term observers from the field across Serbia due to the graveness of the situation with coronavirus. Puting the citizens’ safety as the key priority within these recent circumstances, we believe this to be the only appropriate and responsible decision.
Serbia enters the period of 2020 parliamentary and local elections in a situation where the political battle continues to be held outside of the institutional framework. Part of the opposition has been boycotting the work of the National Assembly since February 2019.
CRTA’s election observation mission has started the long-term observation of the pre-election period in Serbia in accordance with international standards for an independent election monitoring by citizen organizations. A team of 120 long-term observers has been monitoring key segments of the campaign for election of Members of the Parliament three weeks before the elections were…
An Overview of Measures Undertaken by the Serbian Government in relation to ODIHR and CRTA Recommendations
There has been a lot of talks on social networks and media recently about whether party activists can knock on citizens’ doors asking them for whom they will vote. The question that has logically arisen is whether a door-to-door campaign is allowed or not.
“Administration tailored for all of us” is a message of the ongoing advertising campaign seen on TV, billboards
and trams. It is funded by the EU. Is our administration serious about this? Fifteen years since the beginning of
the reform, the results are barely visible from the citizens’ point of view. You still have to “walk” from counter to
counter for the majority of public administration services. The majority of adopted regulations has little impact in
practice. It is still a mystery of how big is the public administration. Despite the ban on public sector employment,
the alternative methods, such as fixed-term employment contract, are still used as instruments for manipulating
the number of employees. As mentioned earlier, this is yet another measure imposed through the conditioning of
the foreign actors – the IMF. Finally, what will our public administration undertake to become more efficient and
professional?
The claims that Olivera Zekić, the REM Council member made in the interview for the daily Večernje novosti, saying that television with national frequency ”do not have the obligation to provide space for the boycott advocates” are confusing for the public and can be interpreted as inadmissible interference with media editorial policy, as well as threatening the interest of the public to be informed as comprehensively as possible about the election process.
In this issue, the Parliamentary Insider brings assessment of the work of the Parliament in the Autumn Sitting of 2019. The highlights of this period include many significant events, from introduction of the dual model of studies in higher education, to adoption of the 2020 budget, but also evasion of procedures, insults on the account…
On the basis of a Draft Rulebook for carrying out the obligations by public service broadcasters, that the Regulatory Authority of Electronic Media (REM) adopted on January 20th, CRTA regrets that the REM clearly has no intention to exercise its legal role and to protect the public interest in the electoral process. The adopted Rulebook did not include any of the essential suggestions made by the participants in the public debate that took place by the end of last year.
Our topics
Democratic culture
Because politics is not just for politicians. It is our human and citizen right to participate in the processes of making decisions which influence our lives. A dialogue has no alternative.
Free and fair elections
Because elections are the pillars of democracy. It is every citizen’s right to decide on whom to give his/her vote in free and fair conditions. Our vote is valuable and it can make a difference.
Open institutions
Because institutions serve the citizens. We need strong institutions with integrity which protect the public interest.
Free media
Because media should ask questions and critically analyse the reality. We need the media which protect the public interest and tackle the needs of the citizens.
