Cameroon
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
1. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Source
SECTION 278(1) of Law No. 2012/001 of 19 April relating to the Electoral Code amended and supplemented by Law No. 2012/017 of 21 December 2012 and by Law No. 2019/005 of 25 April 2019: “It shall be forbidden for any political party to receive subsidies or funding from abroad foreign persons, organizations, powers or States.” Article 10 of the Law No. 90/056 of 19 December 1990 relating to political parties. |
2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates? |
Code
No
|
3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties? |
Code
No
|
4. Is there a ban on corporate donations to candidates? |
Code
No
|
5. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to political parties? |
Code
No
|
6. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to candidates? |
Code
No
|
7. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to political parties? |
Code
No
|
8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates? |
Code
No
|
9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties? |
Code
No
|
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates? |
Code
No
|
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties? |
Code
No
|
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates? |
Code
No
|
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Article 10: (1) The participants shall refrain from using positions of power, influence or privilege for election campaign or political propaganda by giving gifts and other rewards, hurling threats or by other means; they shall further abstain from using public means for party politics and as part of the election campaign. Article 13: The participants shall refrain from facilitating or compromising the election of a candidate by soliciting the support or the assistance of election officials, the Administration, Justice or the Forces of Law and Order (FLO). Source
CODE OF CONDUCT FOR ELECTION STAKEHOLDERS IN CAMEROON, 2018 |
14. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period? |
Code
Yes, for both natural and legal persons
Comment
But the limit is not specified. Source
Article 13- (1) – Law No. 90/056: “Any political party may receive gift and legacies of movable property exclusively from its members or persons settled in Cameroon. (2) The maximum annual amount of such gifts and legacies as well as the procedure for collection thereof shall be determined by regulations » |
15. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period, what is the limit? |
Code
No data
Comment
The limit is not specified. |
16. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election? |
Code
Yes, for both natural and legal persons
Comment
But the limit is not specified. Source
Article 13- (1) – Law No. 90/056: “Any political party may receive gift and legacies of movable property exclusively from its members or persons settled in Cameroon. (2) The maximum annual amount of such gifts and legacies as well as the procedure for collection thereof shall be determined by regulations » |
17. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election, what is the limit? |
Code
No data
Comment
The limit is not specified. |
18. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate? |
Code
No
|
19. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate, what is the limit? |
Code
Not applicable
|
20. Is there a limit on the amount a candidate can contribute to their own election campaign? |
Code
No
|
21. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to political parties? |
Code
No
|
22. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to candidates? |
Code
No
|
23. Is there a ban on political parties engaging in commercial activities? |
Code
Sometimes
Comment
SECTION 12: Any political party that is authorized exist may : · purchase or freely receive and dispose of the movable and immovable property necessery for its activities ; · freely fix the rate of contributions by its members and collect them ; · open bank accounts in Cameroon exclusively. · launch and manage newspaper and training institutions in accordance with the laws in force ; · Institute legal proceedings ; · hold meetings and organize rallies under conditions provided for by the law ; · collect proceeds from its cultural and economic activities. Source
Article 12 , Law no 90-56 of 19 December 1990 relating to political parties. |
24. Is there a ban on political parties taking loans in relation to election campaigns? |
Code
No
|
25. Is there a ban on candidates taking loans in relation to election campaigns? |
Code
No
|
26. Is there a ban on donors to political parties/candidates participating in public tender/procurement processes? |
Code
No
|
27. Are there provisions requiring donations to go through the banking system? |
Code
No
|
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
28. Are there provisions for direct public funding to political parties? |
Code
Yes, both regularly and in relation to campaigns
Source
Section 276 (1) of the Electoral Code: “Public financing shall concern both the routine activities of political parties and those devoted to the organization of election and referendum campaigns.” Section 280 of the Electoral Code: “The subsidy (…) shall be provided by the State to a political party to cover inter alia: - recurrent administrative expenses; - the dissemination of its political programme ; - the co-ordination of the political activities of its members ; - preparation for elections and referendums.” |
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Share of votes in previous election
Source
Section 283 of the Electoral Code: "The part allocated to the functioning of political parties in accordance with the results obtained at the last election of Members of Parliament, Senators, regional councillors and municipal councillors shall be paid to parties which obtained at least 5% of the votes cast in at least one constituency at the said elections. The distribution shall be in proportion of results obtained." |
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Proportional to votes received
Proportional to seats received
Source
Section 281 of the Electoral Code: “The subsidy shall be divided in 2 (two) equal parts: - the first, to be allocated to political parties represented in the National Assembly, the Senate, the regional council and/or the municipal council; - the second, to be allocated to political parties in accordance with the results of the last election of Members of Parliament, Senators and/or regional and municipal councillors.” |
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)? |
Code
Source
Section 280 of the Electoral Code: “The subsidy (…) shall be provided by the State to a political party to cover inter alia: - recurrent administrative expenses; - the dissemination of its political programme ; - the co-ordination of the political activities of its members ; - preparation for elections and referendums.” |
32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
Yes
Source
Article 15 of Law No. 90/056: "Les partis politiques ont accès aux médias audio-visuels de service public dans les conditions fixées par voie réglementaire." |
33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
No data
|
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates? |
Code
No
|
35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding? |
Code
No
|
36. Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties tied to gender equality among candidates? |
Code
No
|
37. Are there provisions for other financial advantages to encourage gender equality in political parties? |
Code
No
|
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
38. Is there a ban on vote buying? |
Code
Yes
Source
Section 289 of the Electoral Code: "Section 123-1 of the Penal Code shall apply to any person who: (...) through gifts, generosity, favours, promise of public or private employment or any other specific benefits offered with the purpose of influencing the vote of one or several electors, obtains their vote, either directly or through a third party ; - directly or through a third party, accepts or requests from candidates the above-mentioned gifts, generosity, favours or benefits;" |
39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend? |
Code
No
|
40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit? |
Code
Not applicable
|
41. Are there limits on the amount a candidate can spend? |
Code
No
|
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit? |
Code
Not applicable
|
43. Are there limits on the amount that third parties can spend on election campaign activities? |
Code
No
|
44. Are there limits on traditional media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns? |
Code
No
|
45. Are there limits on online media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns? |
Code
No
|
46. Do any other restrictions on online media advertisement (beyond limits) exist? |
Code
No
|
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
47. Do political parties have to report regularly on their finances? |
Code
No
|
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances? |
Code
No
|
49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances? |
Code
No
|
50. Do third parties have to report on election campaign finances? |
Code
No
|
51. Is information in reports from political parties and/or candidates to be made public? |
Code
No
|
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors? |
Code
No
|
53. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized income? |
Code
No
|
54. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized spending? |
Code
No
|
55. Which institution(s) receives financial reports from political parties and/or candidates? |
Code
Special agency for political finance
Comment
Special Institution (Committee) set up by a Decree of the President of the Republic. But there are no reporting requirements set out in the relevant laws. Source
Section 277(1) of the Electoral Code: “A control commission is hereby instituted to verify, on the basis of supporting documents, that the use of funds by political parties or candidates conforms to the purpose of this law.” |
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations? |
Code
Special agency for political finance
Comment
Special Institution (Committee) set up by a Decree of the President of the Republic. But there are no reporting requirements set out in the relevant laws. Source
Section 277(1) of the Electoral Code: “A control commission is hereby instituted to verify, on the basis of supporting documents, that the use of funds by political parties or candidates conforms to the purpose of this law.” |
57. What power is granted to the institution(s) responsible for examining reports and/or investigating violations? |
Code
No data
|
58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions? |
Code
Source
Articles 17 and 18 of Law No. 90/056 and Article 123 of the Penal Code. |
