Go back to database front page

Political Finance Database

Change country, region or political entity

Iceland

2016

2018

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 Yes
3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties?	Code No Comment No bans on corporate donations (except foreign) in law.
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 Yes
9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties?	Code No Comment Does not specifically mention corporations with government contracts Source Act on the Finances of Political Organisations and Candidates and their Information Disclosure (2006), last amended in 2011: Contributions from enterprises in which a majority is owned, or which is controlled by, the state or municipalities may not be accepted. Contributions may not be accepted from public bodies not included under the provisions of Chapter II.
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates?	Code No Source P 6, 'political parties and electoral candidates are not permitted to accept donations from: ... -undertakings which are majority owned by or under the control of the State of municipalities;' (Source: GRECO (2008) Evaluation Report on Iceland, Transparency of Party Funding (Theme II))
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties?	Code Yes Source 'political parties and electoral candidates are not permitted to accept donations from: ... -undertakings which are majority owned by or under the control of the State of municipalities;' (Source: GRECO (2008) Evaluation Report on Iceland, Transparency of Party Funding (Theme II))
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates?	Code Yes Source P 6, 'political parties and electoral candidates are not permitted to accept donations from: ... -undertakings which are majority owned by or under the control of the State of municipalities;' (Source: GRECO (2008) Evaluation Report on Iceland, Transparency of Party Funding (Theme II))
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate?	Code No
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 Source P 6, '...political parties and electoral candidates are not allowed to receive more than 300,000 ISK (2,488 EUR) per year from any individual donor' (Source: GRECO (2008) Evaluation Report on Iceland, Transparency of Party Funding (Theme II))
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 Annual limit is ISK 400,000 [I$ 3,300] Comment Amount raised in September 2010.
16. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election?	Code No Comment Regular limit applies Source P 6, '...political parties and electoral candidates are not allowed to receive more than 300,000 ISK (2,488 EUR) per year from any individual donor' (Source: GRECO (2008) Evaluation Report on Iceland, Transparency of Party Funding (Theme II))
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 Yes, for both natural and legal persons Source P 6, '...political parties and electoral candidates are not allowed to receive more than 300,000 ISK (2,488 EUR) per year from any individual donor' (Source: GRECO (2008) Evaluation Report on Iceland, Transparency of Party Funding (Theme II))
19. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate, what is the limit?	Code Limit is ISK 400,000 [I$ 3,300] Comment Per year.
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, regularly Comment From the budget of both the State and municipalities.
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding?	Code Representation in elected body Share of votes in previous election Comment State support to parties with Parliamentary representation or which won at least 2.5% of votes in last election. Municipal support to parties with local council representation or which won at least 5% of vote in last election.
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding?	Code Equal Proportional to votes received Comment State funding is partly allocated equally and partly proportionally by votes gained. Municipal funding is proportional (unclear by what).
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)?	Code No
32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?	Code Yes
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 No
35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding?	Code Yes Comment Tax relief for donors.
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
39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend?	Code No Comment A voluntary limit was agreed to in 2007 regarding advertising.
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 Yes Comment Limit introduced for Presidential candidates in 2010. General limit only relates to the internal selection process (primaries).
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit?	Code ISK 35,000,000 [I$ 287,000] (Presidential candidates), ISK 100,000 [I$ 820] (candidate nomination) Comment The limit only relates to the candidate selection phase (primaries)
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
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances?	Code Yes
49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances?	Code Yes Comment Candidates who spend less than 300,000 ISK [I$ 2,500] are exempt from reporting.
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 Only certain information.
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors?	Code Sometimes Comment All donations from legal persons and donations over ISK 300,000 [I$ 2,500] from individuals must be made public.
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 Auditing agency Comment National Audit Office
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations?	Code Auditing agency Comment National 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 Fines Prison Forfeiture Comment Violation can bring fines or prison (up to two years).

Export 2016 data Export data for all years

Political Finance Database

Iceland

Cookie Notice

Explore