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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Only parties backed by voters to remain

Belgrade, 4 July 2009

Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government Milan Markovic today stated that with the re-registration of political parties, scheduled to begin on July 23, it will be known within six months which parties in Serbia are truly backed by the voters.

Milan Markovic

In an interview for the Tanjug news agency Markovic said that after that period the current number of 650 parties will probably be reduced tenfold.

He specified that the re-registration will be free of charge, adding that parties will have to conduct the changes envisaged by the law and collect at least 10, 000 signatures.

Parties re-registered in line with the new law will not have to collect voters’ signatures for elections, he said, recalling the laws which enabled the reform of the political system in Serbia.

He added that bills on the appointment of MPs, the election of the president and the financing of political parties are underway, voicing his hope that they will be completed before the year’s end.

The voters register is another key element of the reforms, said the Minister, explaining that over the next three years the list is to be turned into a unique electronic data base which will enable citizens to vote wherever they are, instead of having to travel to their place of permanent residence.

The Minister also explained that the new electoral system will be the majority one, adding that the advantage of this system is the establishment of a direct relationship between voters and candidates, which means that only candidates who earn the trust of their fellow citizens can enter local assemblies.

This will force parties to reform their inner system of values and rank their members not on the basis of loyalty but on the renown they enjoy with the broader public, the Minister noted.

He also stressed that another condition for an impartial election process is depolitisation of electoral organs, reiterating that Serbia must set up an independent and professional election organ, namely the state election committee, with not more than nine members, who are not subject to political influence.