Malta
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
Comment
There is a ban on foreign donation, but exceptions could be made.
|
2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
There is a ban on foreign donation, but exceptions could be made.
|
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
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
|
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates? |
Code
No
Source
'[T]here are no restrictions in respect of financial contributions to political parties or election candidates; physical and legal persons may provide contributions without any limits and if they so wish, anonymously.' (p. 12) (Source: GRECO (2009) Evaluation Report on Malta on 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
|
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates? |
Code
No
Source
'[T]here are no restrictions in respect of financial contributions to political parties or election candidates; physical and legal persons may provide contributions without any limits and if they so wish, anonymously.' (p. 12) (Source: GRECO (2009) Evaluation Report on Malta on 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 data
|
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
Article 34 (e): '34. Political parties shall not receive donations: (e) in excess of twenty-five thousand euro (?25,000) during one calendar year from the same source: Provided that for the purposes of this paragraph companies forming part of the same group of companies or which directly or indirectly are controlled by each other or by the same person or group of persons, shall be considered as a single source;' (Source: The Financing of Political Parties Act, 2015. Published in the Government Gazette 28 July, 2015.) |
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
€ 25,000 during one calendar year from the same source
|
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
|
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? |
|
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
No public funding available
|
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Not applicable
|
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Not applicable
|
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)? |
Code
Not applicable
|
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
Other
Comment
The allocation mechanisms corresponding to Article 34 (b) of the Financing of Political Parties Act will be described in a law that has not yet been implemented. Proportionally, though not clear in relation to seats or votes.
|
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Independent candidates only |
35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Tax exemptions.
|
36. Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties tied to gender equality among candidates? |
Code
Not applicable
|
37. Are there provisions for other financial advantages to encourage gender equality in political parties? |
Code
No
Comment
There is no provision of financial advantages 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
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
|
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit? |
Code
20,000 EUR for every electoral district
|
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
No
|
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
Sometimes
|
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
|
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations? |
Code
EMB
|
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
|
