Posters of the “Buy Local – Buy with Heart“ campaign in Sarajevo. Photo: CIN |
Central Election Commission (CIK) of Bosnia and Herzegovina has fined the People’s Party Work for Betterment with 10,000 KM because it took advantage of the government’s “Buy Local” campaign promoting domestic agricultural productions to catch voters attention in the run-up to this year’s elections.
CIK has passed the decision on its today’s session. The commission said in a press release that it has punished the party for violation of the BiH election law.
The Center for Investigative Reporting (CIN) in Sarajevo published this August a story about the marketing campaign Buy Local in which the FBiH Minister of Agriculture, Waterworks and Forestry Jerko Ivanković Lijanović called on the general public to buy local products.
The marketing slogan “Buy Local – Buy with Heart!” recalls the logo “With Heart for Betterment” which belongs to the minister’s party. The campaign was paid with the budget funds of 671,888 KM. CIN has found that the party was putting up its posters along with the Buy Local posters across Sarajevo and other BiH towns in the run up to the elections.
Lijanović’s party can appeal the decision with the Appeal Chamber of the Court of BiH two days after receiving it, said CIK officials.