Measures for implementing in good faith principles and provisions aimed at tackling the misuse of administrative resources
1. Charters of ethics or agreements could be appropriate steps to tackle the misuse of administrative resources during electoral processes. In this respect, political parties would agree on such charters or agreements. Publicity and the thorough dissemination of these instruments are crucial to increase their effectiveness.
2. During electoral processes, officials in public positions who are standing for election should not use their opportunities as officials when they campaign and act as candidates.
3. An independent national audit office reporting to the Parliament plays an important role by supervising the use of administrative resources, including the public funding of political parties and electoral campaigns. An independent body, established according to the law, could be in charge of tackling all issues related to the misuse of administrative resources, including non-financial ones, as long as it is provided with enough resources and adequate rules to fulfil this task.
4. Competent bodies in charge of tackling the misuse of administrative resources should use preventive measures to stop unlawful activities as soon as possible before the elections.
5. Political parties, candidates, public media and public officials who misuse administrative resources should be subject to sanctions.
6. In this respect, an independent judiciary is a sine qua non condition for sanctioning the misuse of administrative resources.
7. It is therefore crucial that constitutional courts, electoral courts, or equivalent bodies, as well as prosecutors and ordinary courts take the ultimate responsibility for the administration of justice dealing with the misuse of administrative resources.
8. Ensuring the integrity of the police, prosecutors, judges as well as auditors of political forces is of crucial importance. Concrete legislative measures should address the issue of integrity so as to assure the neutrality of these persons vis-à-vis the entire electoral processes.
