Hungary
2016
Bans and limits on private income
Public funding
Regulations of spending
Reporting, oversight and sanctions
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
1. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to political parties? |
Code
Yes
|
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
Yes
|
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
Yes
|
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
Yes
Source
Section 4.2, 'Apart from the exceptions included in Section 4, subsection (1) budgetary organs, furthermore, state-owned enterprises, economic associations operating with the participation of the state, foundations receiving direct budgetary subsidies or subsidies allocated by budgetary organs from the state budget may not extend pecuniary contributions to the parties, and in turn, parties may not accept pecuniary contributions from budgetary organs, furthermore, from state-owned enterprises, economic associations operating with the participation of the state, foundations receiving direct budgetary subsidies or subsidies allocated to budgetary organs from the state budget.' (Source: Act XXXIII of 1989 on the Operation and Financial Management of Political Parties) |
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates? |
Code
No
Source
|
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Source
Section 4.2, 'Apart from the exceptions included in Section 4, subsection (1) budgetary organs, furthermore, state-owned enterprises, economic associations operating with the participation of the state, foundations receiving direct budgetary subsidies or subsidies allocated by budgetary organs from the state budget may not extend pecuniary contributions to the parties, and in turn, parties may not accept pecuniary contributions from budgetary organs, furthermore, from state-owned enterprises, economic associations operating with the participation of the state, foundations receiving direct budgetary subsidies or subsidies allocated to budgetary organs from the state budget.' (Source: Act XXXIII of 1989 on the Operation and Financial Management of Political Parties) |
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates? |
Code
No
Source
|
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Government buildings must not be used for campaigning.
|
14. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period? |
Code
No
|
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
Not applicable
Comment
NA
|
16. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election? |
Code
No
|
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
Not applicable
Comment
NA
|
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
Comment
NA
|
20. Is there a limit on the amount a candidate can contribute to their own election campaign? |
|
21. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to political parties? |
|
22. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to candidates? |
|
23. Is there a ban on political parties engaging in commercial activities? |
|
24. Is there a ban on political parties taking loans in relation to election campaigns? |
|
25. Is there a ban on candidates taking loans in relation to election campaigns? |
|
26. Is there a ban on donors to political parties/candidates participating in public tender/procurement processes? |
|
27. Are there provisions requiring donations to go through the banking system? |
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
28. Are there provisions for direct public funding to political parties? |
Code
Yes, both regularly and in relation to campaigns
Comment
Political parties are contributed regularly (per year) and in relation to campaigns (candidates and parties too).
|
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Comment
Parties that present candidates are eligible for election campaign assistance.? Part of ongoing assistance to parties that receive at least 1% of the vote, part to those with Parliamentary representation |
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Proportional to votes received
Proportional to candidates fielded
Comment
Campaign support: Proportional to number of candidates presented. Regular assistance: 25% distributed equally among parties with Parliamentary representation. 75% in proportion to the votes of the party and the candidates of the party in the first valid round in parliamentary elections.
|
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)? |
Code
Campaign spending
Comment
Campaign support should be used for campaign spending.?
|
32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
National and regional public service providers shall publish ads of nominating organisations, local public service program providers shall publish ads of candidates from the 18th to the 3rd day before the elections, at least once, free of charge. On the last day of the election campaign the program providers shall publish the political ads produced by nominating organisations and candidates, free of charge. |
33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
Equal
|
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Local public service program providers shall publish ads of candidates from the 18th day to the 3rd day before the elections, at least once, free of charge. On the last day of the campaign the program providers shall publish the political advertisements produced by candidates, free of charge. |
35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Political parties are exempt from most taxes.
|
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
Comment
There are not any provisions to encourage gender equality in political parties.?
|
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
38. Is there a ban on vote buying? |
Code
Yes
|
39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Five million HUF for each candidate
|
40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit? |
Code
5 million HUF per candidate
|
41. Are there limits on the amount a candidate can spend? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Independent candidates may spend maximum 5 million HUF.
|
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit? |
Code
5 million HUF per candidate.
|
43. Are there limits on the amount that third parties can spend on election campaign activities? |
|
44. Are there limits on traditional media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns? |
|
45. Are there limits on online media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns? |
|
46. Do any other restrictions on online media advertisement (beyond limits) exist? |
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
47. Do political parties have to report regularly on their finances? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Annually
|
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Parties have to publish detalis on election finances in the Official Gazette within 60 days after the election.
|
49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Independent candidate shall publish report of state subsidies and other funds in the Official Gazette of Hungary after the election.
|
50. Do third parties have to report on election campaign finances? |
|
51. Is information in reports from political parties and/or candidates to be made public? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Reports must be available both online and in print.
|
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors? |
Code
Sometimes
Comment
Donations exceeding HUF 500,000 [I$ 3,500], or the equivalent of HUF 100,000 [I$ 690] in the case of foreign contributions, provided in one calendar year shall be shown separately in the financial statements by indicating the name of the contributors and the sums.
|
53. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized income? |
|
54. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized spending? |
|
55. Which institution(s) receives financial reports from political parties and/or candidates? |
Code
Comment
Both campaign and regular contributions are supervised by the State Audit Office of Hungary, and the treasury supervises the distribution of funds and reviews financial statements.?
|
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations? |
Code
Auditing agency
Comment
State Audit Office |
57. What power is granted to the institution(s) responsible for examining reports and/or investigating violations? |
|
58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions? |
Code
|
