Eight parliamentary parties have agreed to set a membership fee of no more than one euro, while the fees for officials range from two to ten percent of their monthly income, as reported by the parties to the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (ASK).

The Europe Now Movement (PES), the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), the Bosniak Party, the Democrats, the Social Democrats (SD), the Socialist People’s Party (SNP), and the Croatian Civic Initiative (HGI) have mandated that their members and officials pay their membership fees for this year, whereas in United Montenegro, it remains voluntary.

Students, pensioners, and members in need are exempt from paying membership fees, as per the decisions made by the parties.

New Serbian Democracy (NSD), Democratic People’s Party (DNP), Civic Movement URA, CIVIS, and the Albanian parties have chosen not to impose membership fees.

According to the Law on Financing Political Entities and Election Campaigns, parties were required to inform ASK of their membership fee structures by January 31.

The ruling PES under Prime Minister Milojko Spajić has set an annual membership fee of ten euros for its members, with officials paying five percent of their income. Thus, the prime minister, earning around 2,000 euros, will contribute approximately 100 euros towards his party membership fees.

“Membership fees are generally paid annually by March 31 for the current year to the Movement’s registered bank account,” states the PES decision regarding this year’s membership fees, replicating last year’s structure.

The DPS charges one euro per month as a membership fee, with party officials contributing two to seven percent, maintaining the same rates as the previous year.

Elected officials at both state and local levels are required to pay a fee of five percent of their income, while those serving on governing bodies (e.g., board of directors, councils) of institutions and companies pay seven percent of their income.

DPS President Danijel Zivkovic received a reported MP salary of 1,775 euros in January, thus he should allocate 88.7 euros per month (five percent) to the party, which totals 1,064 euros annually.

Employees of the DPS General Secretariat contribute a membership fee of two percent of their income.

“Typically, membership fees are paid monthly by the 5th of the month for the previous month’s earnings,” according to the DPS membership fee policy published on the ASK website.

In Democratic Montenegro, officials are also expected to pay their membership fees monthly. The party’s decision states that members who hold public office at state and local levels must pay a fee of 2.5 percent of their monthly income, with the total not exceeding ten percent of the average net salary in Montenegro for the previous year.

“Membership fees are to be paid monthly for the prior month, no later than five days from receiving the monthly income,” the decision specifies.

The Bosniak Party charges a monthly fee of one euro for members, two euros for municipal committee members, three euros for those on the Main Committee, and five euros for Presidency members.

Officials of the Bosniak Party in government roles at any level are required to pay three percent of their income as membership fees.

For the Social Democratic Party (SD), the fee is one euro per month for general members, while officials at any government level are charged three percent of their income. Those holding multiple public sector positions must pay ten percent of their income.

The Socialist People’s Party (SNP) requires its officials to pay membership fees amounting to five percent of their monthly income.

In the Croatian Civic Initiative (HGI), membership fees range between 12 to 20 euros annually.

“Each individual member pays an annual fee of 12 euros. For families with two or more HGI members, the total annual fee for all members is set at 20 euros,” according to the membership fee agreement.

United Montenegro has opted for voluntary membership fees based on individual capabilities, which will not exceed 50 euros annually.

Monthly membership fees cannot exceed 10 percent of average earnings.

In accordance with the Law on Financing Political Entities and Election Campaigns, the maximum monthly membership fee is capped at ten percent of the average salary from the previous year.

Data from Monstat reveals the average net salary last year was 876 euros.

Under the law, any income generated from membership fees and contributions collected by a political entity is exempt from taxation.

Parties were mandated to report their membership fee structures to ASK by January 31, as dictated by the Law on Financing Political Entities and Election Campaigns.

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