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Article 71
 

Election campaign participants


(1) For the purpose of collecting funds for election campaign financing, the political party, coalition, the head of the independent list of a group of voters or the persons who plan to run for candidates are all obliged to obtain from the competent authority
a unique tax number designated “for election campaign” and to open a bank account designated “for election campaign”, which may not be used for any other purpose.


(2) The entities referred to in paragraph (1) of this article are required to obtain the unique tax number and to open the bank account from paragraph (1) of this article not later than 48 hours after the confirmation of the lists of candidates, and not earlier than 48 hours after the announcement the elections. During the 48-hours deadline, proof of the registered unique tax number and the opened bank account shall be submitted to the competent election commission.


(3) The registering of a unique tax number and the opening of the bank account from paragraph (1) of this article for a coalition, political party, group of voters or persons who are planning to run for candidates shall be regulated by a coalition agreement or a statement of intent made by the political party, group of voters, i.e. persons who are planning to run for candidates, certified by a notary public.


(4) Should the political party, coalition, the head of the independent list of a group of voters or the persons who plan to run for candidates fail to register a unique tax number and open a bank account within the time period specified in paragraph (2) of this article, the list of candidates shall be rejected upon a decision of the competent Election Commission, and the confirmed list shall be annulled by a decision of the competent Election Commission.


(5) When the bank account is opened by the submitter of an independent list of a group of voters, i.e. persons planning to run as candidates, authorized signatory of the bank account shall be the head of the independent list or a person authorized by the head of the list.


(6) All funds transferred by legal entities or private persons for financing the election campaign shall be deposited on the bank account from paragraph (1) of this article. The donations for financing the election campaigns may only be transferred to the bank account from paragraph (1) of this article, not later than the deadline determined for submitting the financial report for financing the election campaign prescribed in Article 85, paragraph (1) of this Code.


(7) Funds from the main bank account of the political party and from the separate bank accounts for funds procured via loans can also be deposited on the bank account referred to in paragraph (1) of this article. The political party can execute transfers from the bank account referred to in paragraph (1) of this article to the main bank account of the political party.


(8) In case of failure to submit or confirm the list of candidates, the entities from paragraph (1) of this article who have registered a unique tax number and have opened a bank account are required to return the unspent donations to the donors proportionally to the donated amount of funds, within a time period of 60 days.


(9) In case a coalition agreement is made between the entities from paragraph (1) of this article, the entities from paragraph (1) of this article, who had previously registered a unique tax number and had opened a bank account shall be required to delete the registered unique tax number from the respective registry and to close the bank account by transferring the funds, the rights and obligations to the bank account opened in accordance with the coalition agreement and the registered unique tax number, within the deadlines from paragraph (2) of this article.


(10) All funds for the purposes of election campaign financing shall be transferred onto the bank account from paragraph (1) of this article and all costs for the purposes of the election campaign shall solely be covered from this bank account.


(11) The bank account referred to in paragraph (1) of this article shall be closed within three months from the day of announcement of the final election results from the elections for President of the Republic of Macedonia and elections for members of the Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia.


(12) The bank account referred to in paragraph (1) of this article shall be closed within nine months from the day of announcement of the final election results from the elections for Members of Councils of the municipalities and Members of the Council of the City of Skopje, elections for Mayor of municipality, i.e. Mayor of the City of Skopje.