Local infrastructure works are one of the most common mechanisms for which it is determined to be used in election periods for achieving political advantage and influencing the will of voters, which is particularly conspicuous in the north of the country, which is a very underdeveloped area.
Before the October parliamentary elections, the Ministry of Sustainable Development significantly increased the expenditures for the local infrastructure through the capital budget, as shown in the study below.
During the three pre- election months, i.e. from mid-July to mid-October 2016, the Ministry of Sustainable Development spent approximately €4.5 million for building local infrastructure and facilities, which is 58 percent more than it was allocated for this purpose in three and a half months preceding the calling of the parliamentary elections, i.e. in April, May, June and the first part of July 2016.
According to the official data, from 12 July 2016 when the parliamentary elections were called until the end of July, the Ministry of Sustainable Development spent approximately €600 thousand for the local infrastructure and buildings, whereas in August it set aside €1.6 million, in September €1.8 million, and by 16 October, when the elections were held, an additional sum of €460,000. Immediately after the parliamentary elections were finished, i.e. by the end of October, an additional €1.6 million was spent.
Complete case study download HERE (PDF)
