ZAGREB, 22 December, 2021 - The State Audit Office has published a report on financial operations of political parties and independent representatives in 2020, noting a slew of irregularities in the operations of the Homeland Movement, including the procurement of wine and CDs linked to the party's then-leader Miroslav Škoro.
The audit established that the opposition Homeland Movement spent 62.5% of its representation expenses, that is HRK 280,500, to procure Škoro's wine and Christmas CDs, but it is not clear why they were procured.
Škoro broke up with the party this past summer.
State Audit Office spokeswoman Biserka Čoh Mikulec said on Wednesday there were no documents that would confirm why those goods were procured, if they were delivered to the party, or where they were used and for what.
The office found that the expenses for catering (HRK 52,600), food, drinks and cutlery (HRK 9,251), and party games and drawing supplies (HRK 1,893) did not include the names of the recipients.
The office also found that last year the Homeland Movement spent HRK 1.9 million on advertising, but numerous invoices did not contain data that would confirm if the promotional messages and videos were broadcast.
Čoh Mikulec said the State Audit Office would forward its findings to the State Attorney's Office.
The office audited last year's financial statements of 45 political parties, 25% of all, and six independent representatives.
The office gave 29 unqualified and 16 qualified opinions on the financial statements as well as 38 unqualified and seven qualified opinions on compliance of operations.
Parties operated at HRK 16.4 million surplus
The 45 political parties made HRK 149 million in total revenues in 2020 and HRK 132.7 million in total expenditures, resulting in a total surplus of HRK 16.4 million.
The six independent representatives made HRK 2.5 million in revenues and HRK 2.7 million in expenditures, resulting in a loss totalling HRK 132,000. The State Audit Office gave five unqualified opinions and one qualified opinion on their financial statements as well as six unqualified opinions on compliance of operations.
Čoh Mikulec said political parties and independent representatives were increasingly complying with regulations but that there were still irregularities and oversights.
(€1 = HRK 7.5)
