OSCE/ODIHR final report on Serbia’s parliamentary elections notes respect for fundamental freedoms, recommends steps to further improve election process

The early parliamentary elections in Serbia, held on 16 March 2014, were characterized by respect for fundamental rights and freedoms, but more needs to be done to further improve the election process, says the final report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

The report, published on 22 May 2014, notes that the legal framework provides an overall sound basis for the conduct of democratic elections, but also highlights that certain recommendations from the previous elections remain unaddressed, particularly, with regards to candidate registration, election administration, complaints and appeals, and international election observers.

Noting credible reports of voter intimidation cases, the report also encourages authorities and law enforcement bodies to take more resolute steps to prevent, identify, investigate and prosecute instances of vote-buying, pressure and intimidation of voters and misuse of state resources for campaign purposes.

It also recommends establishing legally-binding reasonable and justifiable limits to campaign expenditures to enhance the playing field among contestants during campaign periods.

The report also notes that the unified electronic voter register requires further improvement, and recommends that names of all voters of belonging to national minorities should be entered in the voter register in their respective languages, in accordance with the legal framework.

Other recommendations include steps to enhance the transparency of electoral dispute resolution process and political finance.