IV. Analysys and recommendations

F. Public funding

A proposed change to Article 21 (on allocation of funds from public sources) would delay payment of the part of public funding available ahead of the elections (20%) by an extra five days to ten days from the date of proclamation of elections lists. It is not entirely clear why the provision of these funds should be delayed in this manner. This delay could, in the relatively short election campaign season in Serbia, have a significant impact on the campaigns of parties more dependent on public funding, i.e. usually smaller parties, and could therefore have an indirect discriminatory effect. It is recommended that this provision be reconsidered.