Serbia’s Bureau for Social Research (BIRODI) has called for amendments to the Law on the Prevention of Corruption that would prohibit public officials from simultaneously holding positions in political parties while serving in public office.
In a statement issued on Friday, the non-governmental organization said the proposed legal changes should clearly separate the state from political parties, strengthen the integrity of public officials and political organizations, and enhance the independence of Serbia’s Anti-Corruption Agency.
BIRODI proposed that the amended law explicitly state that public office holders cannot perform party functions or hold positions in any political organization during their term in office.
According to the organization, such a provision would ensure the implementation of Article 6 of Serbia’s Constitution, which states that no one may exercise a state or public function that conflicts with other functions, activities or private interests.
BIRODI argued that the constitutional principle clearly distinguishes the public interest represented by state institutions from the particular interests of political parties. It added that the proposal would also implement the first priority recommendation of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) aimed at preventing the misuse of public resources and public office for political purposes.
The organization also proposed introducing a legal obligation for local governments and political parties to adopt and implement integrity plans designed to strengthen transparency and accountability.
Under BIRODI’s proposal, political parties that receive public funding would be required to adopt and implement integrity plans, with oversight carried out by the Anti-Corruption Agency. Compliance with those plans would become a condition for receiving financial support from Serbia’s state budget.
In addition, BIRODI called for reforms to strengthen the integrity of the process for appointing members of the Anti-Corruption Agency’s governing council and its director, while introducing safeguards to prevent conflicts of interest during those appointments.
The organization said adopting the proposed amendments would significantly improve Serbia’s anti-corruption framework, reinforce the integrity of public institutions and political parties, strengthen the independence of the Anti-Corruption Agency, and help fulfill the country’s international commitments related to European Union accession and recommendations issued by ODIHR, GRECO and other international rule-of-law bodies.
