Podgorica, (MINA) - The Comprehensive Electoral Reform Committee has submitted to the Ministry of Justice an initiative to amend the Criminal Code, with the aim of strengthening the criminal law protection for electoral integrity, more effective sanctioning of political corruption and improving transparency in the financing of political entities and election campaigns.

According to the press release published on the Parliament’s website, the Committee identified a number of legal gaps and weaknesses in the current Criminal Code that hinder effective prosecution of severe forms of electoral rights violations and campaign financing abuses.

The announcement further states that, on behalf of the Committee, co-chairs Nikola Rakocevic and Vasilije Carapic submitted the initiative to the Ministry, with the aim of strengthening the criminal law protection of electoral integrity, more effective sanctioning of political corruption and improving the transparency of the financing of political entities and election campaigns.

The Parliament further stated that the initiative includes proposals for normative clarification and expansion of existing criminal offenses.

“As well as the introduction of new provisions addressing the illegal financing of political entities from abroad, exceeding the amount of contributions allowed by law, accepting donations from prohibited sources, misuse of public resources during the election campaigns, vote buying, political bribery and forging signatures for electoral tickets”, the press release reads.