The Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) said on Sunday the non-governmental election monitoring organisation GONG and Transparency International Croatia had published untrue information, thus undermining a fair election campaign and making the December 4 parliamentary election non-transparent.
The party said in a press release the information made public by GONG and TIH yesterday, to the effect that the HDZ spent HRK 1,551,720 on advertising on the first day of the election campaign, November 17, was incorrect, and that GONG said on its website that this figure did not include VAT. The HDZ said it spent HRK 1,015,491.46 on advertising on the first campaign day and that this included VAT.
The party said that since GONG and TIH, based on a survey conducted by "a certain" Promocija Plus agency, had a figure that was "literally twice the real amount," it called on them to immediately stop publishing untrue information, as it undermined equal campaigning and raised its non-transparency.
The HDZ said the law on the financing of political activities and electoral promotion and the State Election Commission's precise instructions clearly prescribed how campaign costs should be reported and monitored, adding that it would comply with all legal provisions and publish preliminary and financial financing reports within the legal deadlines.
The party said it would report this matter to the State Election Commission as well as ask it to take a clear position on advertising terms approved by the media.
The Commission issued a statement today reminding political parties, independent slates and candidates that, under the law on the financing of political activities and electoral promotion, they had the obligation to publish the price of and the discount obtained on media advertising. It also reminded all media that, under the same law, they had the obligation to submit their advertising prices to the Commission.
