Go back to database front page

Political Finance Database

Change country, region or political entity

Kazakhstan

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 Comment Ban is limited to Kazakhstan judicial persons having foreign participation in their charter capital.The candidates standing for elections under party lists nominated by the political parties have no right to form their own election funds. The candidate to deputies of the Senate has his own election fund.
3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties?	Code No Comment No bans on corporate donations 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 Source Art 18 (2) No donations shall be permitted in favor of a political party or its structural divisions (branches and representative offices) from:? any foreign states and legal entities, or international organizations;? any foreigners and stateless persons;? any legal entities with foreign participation;? any state bodies or organizations;? any religious associations or charitable organizations; ? any anonymous donors;? from citizens or non-governmental organizations of the Republic of Kazakhstan, receiving grants and other funds from international or foreign non-governmental organizations. (Source: Law on Political Parties of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 2002)
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates?	Code No Source Art 34 (1; 3) '1. Pre-election campaigns of candidates on Elections of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and elections of deputies of Parliament and deputies of Maslikhats can be funded from the election funds formed in compliance with the procedure established by the present Constitutional Act. [...]3. The election funds are formed of the following sources: 1) Personal funds of candidates in deputies of the electoral districts, the funds of political parties; 2) The means allocated to the candidate by the Republican public association that has nominated the candidate; 3) Voluntary donations of citizens and organizations of the Republic. The voluntary donations of the state bodies and organizations, local self-administration bodies, charitable organizations, religious associations, the Kazakhstan juridical persons having foreign participation in their charter capital and also anonymous donations of natural and legal persons are forbidden.'(Source: Constitutional Act of the Republic of Kazakhstan, On Elections in the Republic of Kazakhstan, 1995)
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties?	Code No Source Art 18 (2) No donations shall be permitted in favor of a political party or its structural divisions (branches and representative offices) from:? any foreign states and legal entities, or international organizations;? any foreigners and stateless persons;? any legal entities with foreign participation;? any state bodies or organizations;? any religious associations or charitable organizations; ? any anonymous donors;? from citizens or non-governmental organizations of the Republic of Kazakhstan, receiving grants and other funds from international or foreign non-governmental organizations. (Source: Law on Political Parties of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 2002)
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates?	Code Yes Source Art 34 (1; 3) '1. Pre-election campaigns of candidates on Elections of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and elections of deputies of Parliament and deputies of Maslikhats can be funded from the election funds formed in compliance with the procedure established by the present Constitutional Act. [...]3. The election funds are formed of the following sources: 1) Personal funds of candidates in deputies of the electoral districts, the funds of political parties; 2) The means allocated to the candidate by the Republican public association that has nominated the candidate; 3) Voluntary donations of citizens and organizations of the Republic. The voluntary donations of the state bodies and organizations, local self-administration bodies, charitable organizations, religious associations, the Kazakhstan juridical persons having foreign participation in their charter capital and also anonymous donations of natural and legal persons are forbidden.'(Source: Constitutional Act of the Republic of Kazakhstan, On Elections in the Republic of Kazakhstan, 1995)
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate?	Code Yes Comment Public premises must not be used for campaigning, and candidates must not use their official position (nor their subordinates). Public media must be neutral.
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
16. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election?	Code No Comment Though there is a limit on the total amount of donations (10,000 minimum wages)
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
18. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate?	Code No Comment There is no limit on individual donations, though there is a limit on the total amount of donations (500 minimum wages for Senate elections, 15,000 for Presidential elections). In the presidential election of 2015, the limit on total amount of donations was set at KZT 577 m (USD 3,1 m)
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?
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
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding?	Code Representation in elected body Comment Funding is available to political parties with Parliamentary representation.
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding?	Code Proportional to votes received
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 No Comment Only for candidates
33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?	Code Not applicable
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates?	Code Yes
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
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 Yes Comment The Elections Act states that a candidate can spend up to the maximum limit set in the rules regulating the size of the election funds. There are also provisions regulating spending that exceeds the maximum limit.
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit?	Code 500 minimum wages for Senate elections, 15,000 for Presidential elections.
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
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
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors?	Code Yes
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 EMB Other Comment Tax authorities
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations?	Code EMB Other Comment Corresponding election commissions and 'financial institutions'
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 Forfeiture Deregistration of party

Export

Political Finance Database

Kazakhstan

Cookie Notice

Explore