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Political Finance Database

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Mauritius

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 No
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 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 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
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?	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 No
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 data
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 No public funding available Source "In the law, there is no provision for political parties to receive money through public funding." (The 2018 Global Integrity Report on Mauritius (question 48): https://aii.globalintegrity.org/indicator-details?country=mauritius&num=48&year=2018).
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 Source "Broadcasting licensees shall provide fair, equitable, balanced, accurate and impartial reporting of political events and fair, equitable and balanced coverage to all parties, alliances and independent candidates at elections." (Part A.1(1)a, Political Boroadcasts and Party Election Boroadcasts, General Guidelines for Private and Public Broadcasters, 7 April 2010).
33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?	Code Number of candidates Share of seats Source "The precise allocation of the air-time for party election broadcasts shall, subject to this Part, be the responsibility of the broadcasting licensee. Broadcasting licensees shall exercise their judgement based on the following factors - (a) the number of candidates being fielded by parties/alliances; (b) the number of candidates who were elected Members of the outgoing National Assembly." (Part B.4(1), Political Boroadcasts and Party Election Boroadcasts, General Guidelines for Private and Public Broadcasters, 7 April 2010).
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates?	Code Yes Source "Broadcasting licensees which are wholly or partly financed from public funds shall, in accordance with this Part and more particularly paragraph B.4, grant, free of charge, airtime for party election broadcasts to the duly registered political parties and alliances fielding a minimum of 6 candidates (and, in the case of Rodrigues, a minimum of 2 candidates) at the General Elections so that they may assist the public in making an informed choice from among the various parties and candidates." (Part B.1(2)a, Political Boroadcasts and Party Election Boroadcasts, General Guidelines for Private and Public Broadcasters, 7 April 2010).
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 "(1) Any person who— (a) (a) directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf gives, lends, or agrees to give or lend, or offers, promises, or promises to procure or to endeavour to procure, any money or valuable consideration to or for any elector, or to or for any person on behalf of any elector, or to or for any other person, in order to induce any elector to vote or refrained from voting, or corruptly does any such act on account of any elector having voted or refrained from voting at any election; (b) (b) directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, gives or procures, or agrees to give or procure, or offers, promises or promises to procure or to endeavour to procure any office, place, or employment, to or for any elector, or to or for any person, on behalf of any elector or for any other person, in order to induce such elector to vote or refrain from voting, or corruptly does any such act on account of any elector having voted or refrained from voting at any election; (c) (c) directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, makes any such sift, loan, offer, promise, procurement, or agreement as is mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b), to or for any person, in order to induce such person to procure, or endeavour to procure, the return of any person as an elected member of a council or the vote of any elector at any election; (d) (d) upon or in consequence of any such gift, loan, offer, promise, procurement or agreement, procures or engages, promises or endeavours to procure, the return of any person as an elected member of a council, or the vote of any elector at any election; (e) (e) advances or pays, or causes to be paid, any money to or to the use of any other person, with the intent that such money or any part thereof, shall be expended in bribery at any election, or who knowingly pays, or causes to be paid, any money to any person in discharge or repayment of any money in whole or in part expended in bribery at any election; (f) (f) before or during any election, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, receives, agrees or contracts for any money, gift, loan or valuable consideration, office, place, or employment, for himself or for any person, for voting or agreeing to vote, or for refraining or agreeing to refrain from voting at any election; or (g) (g) after any election, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, receives any money or valuable consideration on account of any person having voted or refrained from voting, or having induced any other person to vote or refrain from voting, at any election, shall be guilty of bribery under this Act. (2) A person who — (a) (a) corruptly by himself or by any other person, either before, during or after an election, directly or indirectly gives or provides, or pays in whole or in part the expenses of giving or providing, any food, drink, entertainment, or provision to or for any person for the purpose of corruptly influencing that person, or any other person, to vote or refrain from voting at such election; or (b) (b) corruptly accepts or takes any such food, drink, entertainment or provision, shall be guilty of treating under this Act." (Article 64, The Representation of the People Act n°1958, Act 14/1958, last amended by Act n° 23/2005).
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 Source "The maximum amount of election expenses to be incurred in respect of a candidature shall be — (i) in respect of a National Assembly election — (A) (A) where the candidate does not belong to any party, or where there is no other candidate belonging to the same party at the election in a constituency, 250,000 rupees; (B) (B) where the candidate is not the only candidate belonging to a party at the election in the constituency, 150,000 rupees; (ii) in respect of a municipal council election 50,000 rupees. (iii) in respect of a local region election or an Island region election in Rodrigues 100,000 rupees." (Article 51, The Representation of the People Act n°1958, Act 14/1958, last amended by Act n° 23/2005).
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit?	Code Different spending limits depending on the type of elections: parliamentary elections, 250,000 rupees (USD 7,040), municipal elections, 50,000 rupees (USD 1,400) and regional elections, 100,000 rupees (USD 2,800). Source "The maximum amount of election expenses to be incurred in respect of a candidature shall be — (i) in respect of a National Assembly election — (A) (A) where the candidate does not belong to any party, or where there is no other candidate belonging to the same party at the election in a constituency, 250,000 rupees; (B) (B) where the candidate is not the only candidate belonging to a party at the election in the constituency, 150,000 rupees; (ii) in respect of a municipal council election 50,000 rupees. (iii) in respect of a local region election or an Island region election in Rodrigues 100,000 rupees." (Article 51, The Representation of the People Act n°1958, Act 14/1958, last amended by Act n° 23/2005).
43. Are there limits on the amount that third parties can spend on election campaign activities?	Code Yes, third parties banned from campaign spending Source "No expenditure shall be incurred in respect of the candidate of any person at any election except by the candidate, his agent, or a person authorised in writing by the agent." (Article 52, The Representation of the People Act n°1958, Act 14/1958, last amended by Act n° 23/2005).
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 Yes Source "Within 6 weeks after the day on which the candidate or candidates returned at an election is or are declared elected, the election agent of every candidate at such election shall make an election return to the returning officer for the electoral area in which he acted as an election agent." (Article 56(1), The Representation of the People Act n°1958, Act 14/1958, last amended by Act n° 23/2005).
50. Do third parties have to report on election campaign finances?	Code Third parties are banned from participating in campaigns Source "No expenditure shall be incurred in respect of the candidate of any person at any election except by the candidate, his agent, or a person authorised in writing by the agent." (Article 52, The Representation of the People Act n°1958, Act 14/1958, last amended by Act n° 23/2005).
51. Is information in reports from political parties and/or candidates to be made public?	Code Yes Comment Yes, but not directly. The returning officer publishes in a daily newspaper a notice of the time and place at which the return and the documents in support thereof can be inspected within 10 days of the receipt of the return. Source "The returning officer shall, within 10 days after he receives a return under this section, publish in a daily newspaper a notice of the time and place at which the return and the documents in support thereof can be inspected. (b) In Rodrigues, the notice shall be published by affixing copies thereof at such conspicuous places in Rodrigues as the returning officer thinks fit." (Article 56(7), The Representation of the People Act n°1958, Act 14/1958, last amended by Act n° 23/2005).
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 Yes Source "Every return made under this section shall contain a full statement under the appropriate head specified in the return of all expenditure incurred in connection with the election by or on behalf of the candidate and shall be supported by vouchers for all payments in excess of 30 rupees." (Article 56(2), The Representation of the People Act n°1958, Act 14/1958, last amended by Act n° 23/2005).
55. Which institution(s) receives financial reports from political parties and/or candidates?	Code Other Comment Returning election agent officer Source "Within 6 weeks after the day on which the candidate or candidates returned at an election is or are declared elected, the election agent of every candidate at such election shall make an election return to the returning officer for the electoral area in which he acted as an election agent." (Article 56(1), The Representation of the People Act n°1958, Act 14/1958, last amended by Act n° 23/2005).
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations?	Code No institution specified
57. What power is granted to the institution(s) responsible for examining reports and/or investigating violations?	Code Not applicable
58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions?	Code Fines Prison Comment Prison in case of vote buying. Source "Every person who is guilty of bribery, treating or undue influence under this Act, shall be liable on conviction, to a fine not exceeding 2,000 rupees and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year." (Article 66, The Representation of the People Act n°1958, Act 14/1958, last amended by Act n° 23/2005).

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