Austria
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
1. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to political parties? |
Code
No
Comment
However, donations from foreign natural or legal persons must not exceed ?2,500.
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2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates? |
Code
No
Comment
Political parties and candidates must not accept donations from foreign natural or legal persons, if the donation exceeds EUR 2,500.
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3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties? |
Code
No
Comment
.
|
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
Comment
.
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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, above certain threshold
Comment
Anonymous donations may not exceed ?1,000.Parties must disclose the identity of donors that are subsidizing the party for more than 3500 ?.
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8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates? |
Code
Yes, above certain threshold
Comment
? 1000
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9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties? |
Code
No
Source
Art 6.6, 'Political parties shall not accept donations from:...5. undertakings and institutions in which the public sector holds a share of at least 25%' (Source: Federal Act on the Financing of Political Parties (Political Parties Act 2012 [Parteiengesetz 2012]), Federal Law Gazette I No. 56/2012)) |
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates? |
Code
No
Source
Art 6.6:'Political parties shall not accept donations from: (...) 5. undertakings and institutions in which the public sector holds a share of at least 25%' Art 6.9 'Paras 3 to 8 shall be applied mutatis mutandis to all branches of a party, to members of parliament and candidates who stood for elections on a list of candidates submitted by a political party, (...)' (Source: Federal Act on Federal Support of Political Parties (Support of Political Parties Act 2012), Federal Law Gazette I No. 57/2012) |
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Banned if the state holds a share of at least 25% Source
Art 6.6, 'Political parties shall not accept donations from:...5. undertakings and institutions in which the public sector holds a share of at least 25%' (Source: Federal Act on the Financing of Political Parties (Political Parties Act 2012 [Parteiengesetz 2012]), Federal Law Gazette I No. 56/2012)) |
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Candidates shall not accept donations from entities in which the public sector holds a share of at least 25% Source
Art 6.6:'Political parties shall not accept donations from: (...) 5. undertakings and institutions in which the public sector holds a share of at least 25%' Art 6.9 'Paras 3 to 8 shall be applied mutatis mutandis to all branches of a party, to members of parliament and candidates who stood for elections on a list of candidates submitted by a political party, (...)' (Source: Federal Act on Federal Support of Political Parties (Support of Political Parties Act 2012), Federal Law Gazette I No. 57/2012) |
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
Comment
.
|
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
.
|
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
.
|
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? |
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21. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to political parties? |
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22. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to candidates? |
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23. Is there a ban on political parties engaging in commercial activities? |
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24. Is there a ban on political parties taking loans in relation to election campaigns? |
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25. Is there a ban on candidates taking loans in relation to election campaigns? |
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26. Is there a ban on donors to political parties/candidates participating in public tender/procurement processes? |
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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
Political parties receive annual public financing (which can be used for both regular party activities and campaign activities) |
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Comment
Parties that have obtained at least 1% of the votes are eligible for public funding. Parties that are represented in the National Council receive additional funding, and even more if they have at least five parliamentary seats.
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30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Equal Proportional to votes received
Flat rate by votes received
Comment
Non-parliamentary parties receive a flat rate for each vote won [?2.5/vote). For parliamentary parties, the total funding (?4.6/eligible voter) is divided proportionally by votes won after deduction of ?218,000 for each party with at least five parliamentary seats (this amount is then given equally to each such party).
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31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)? |
Code
No
Comment
The funding should assist parties to participate in 'the formation of political will', but no specific ear marking.
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32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
No
Comment
.
|
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
No
Comment
.
|
35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Funding provided to party affiliated institutes. ?
|
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
No data
|
39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Limits on campaign expenses exist.
|
40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit? |
Code
7 million euros
Comment
7 million euros per party and campaign regarding elections for a general representative body and the European parliament. Same rules should apply for presidential elections. If the same list of candidates is supported by two or more political parties, the maximum amount shall apply to the aggregated expenses of those parties.
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41. Are there limits on the amount a candidate can spend? |
Code
Yes
Comment
The total campaign expenditure limit of political parties is 7 million euro. In this, all individual candidates' campaign expenditures are included, which means that the theoretical spending limit of a candidate is 7 million euro. If, however, a candidate spends 15,000 euros or less, this will not count toward the party's limit.
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42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit? |
Code
In theory €7 million, if no other candidate of the party, nor the party, spends any funding.
Comment
The total campaign expenditure limit of political parties is 7 million euro. In this, all individual candidates' campaign expenditures are included, which means that the theoretical spending limit of a candidate is 7 million euro. If, however, a candidate spends 15,000 euros or less, this will not count toward the party's limit. |
43. Are there limits on the amount that third parties can spend on election campaign activities? |
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44. Are there limits on traditional media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns? |
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45. Are there limits on online media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns? |
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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
Political parties must submit annual reports.
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48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances? |
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49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Individual candidates have to report on their finance, and these are to be stated in the statement of accounts of the campaigning party.
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50. Do third parties have to report on election campaign finances? |
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51. Is information in reports from political parties and/or candidates to be made public? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Political parties have to publish financial statement on their websites.
|
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors? |
Code
Sometimes
Comment
Identity of donors giving more than ? 3,500 [I$ 4,300] in a calendar year must be identified with name and address. Donations exceeding ?50,000 [I$61,300] must be immediately reported and published, including name and address of donor.
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53. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized income? |
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54. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized spending? |
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55. Which institution(s) receives financial reports from political parties and/or candidates? |
Code
Auditing agency
Comment
The Court of Audit receives reports from political parties. These reports contain parties' consolidated financial statements, which put together financial reports from both the federal level and the sub-federal levels of the party.
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56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations? |
Code
Auditing agency
Comment
Court of Audit
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57. What power is granted to the institution(s) responsible for examining reports and/or investigating violations? |
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58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions? |
Code
Comment
Fines of up to ?20,000 [I$24,500] and forfeiture of prohibited donations.
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