A government ploy to hand out cheques prior to the March general election does not conform to international standards and good practice, an international election monitoring body has ruled. In a 25-page report published on Friday by the OSCE’s office for democratic institutions and human rights, a team of international experts sent to monitor the election said the pre-election cheques could blur the line between party and state. Workers, pensioners and students all received government cheques ranging from €100 to €200 in the days and weeks leading up to polling day. According to the police, the pre-election cheques did not amount to a corrupt practice. The OSCE, however, said that to prevent the misuse of administrative resources, no major announcements of financial allocations which might create a favourable perception of a given party or candidate should occur during campaign periods. Regular use of social media channels by cabinet members to publicise their personal and political profiles could be interpreted as a misuse of official resources, the report continued. PBS, Broadcasting Authority The election-monitoring body also zeroed in on PBS, saying the appointment...