Political Finance Database

Nepal

Nepal

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
Source

Rajnaitik Dal Sambandhi Pahilo Sansodhan (First Act regarding Political Parties) 2017, Art. 38

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

Only companies registered in Nepal

Source

Rajnaitik Dal Sambandhi Pahilo Sansodhan (First Act regarding Political Parties) 2017, Art. 38

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
Source

Rajnaitik Dal Sambandhi Pahilo Sansodhan (First Act regarding Political Parties) 2017, Art. 38

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
Source

Rajnaitik Dal Sambandhi Pahilo Sansodhan (First Act regarding Political Parties) 2017, Art. 38

8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates?
Code
No data
9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties?
Code
No
Source

http://cijnepal.org.np/contractors-party-candidates-money-power-trumps-people-power/

10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates?
Code
No
Source

http://cijnepal.org.np/contractors-party-candidates-money-power-trumps-people-power/

11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties?
Code
Yes
Source

Rajnaitik Dal Sambandhi Pahilo Sansodhan (First Act regarding Political Parties) 2017, Art. 38/2 (B)

12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates?
Code
Yes
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate?
Code
Yes
Comment

Not only state resources but also government employees

Source

Nirvachan (Kasur tatha Sajay) Aen, 2073, Art. 26

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

Only that any donation more than 25,000 PKR should be by cheque

Source

Rajnaitik Dal Sambandhi Pahilo Sansodhan (First Act regarding Political Parties) 2017, Art. 38

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
No data
Comment

Only that donations over 25,000 PKR should be donated by cheque

Source

Rajnaitik Dal Sambandhi Pahilo Sansodhan (First Act regarding Political Parties) 2017, Art. 38

16. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election?
Code
No data
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
No data
18. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate?
Code
No data
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 data
22. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to candidates?
Code
No data
23. Is there a ban on political parties engaging in commercial activities?
Code
No data
24. Is there a ban on political parties taking loans in relation to election campaigns?
Code
No data
Comment

None of the acts/rules I have come so far have any mention of a loan.

25. Is there a ban on candidates taking loans in relation to election campaigns?
Code
No data
Comment

None of the acts/rules I have come so far has any mention of a loan.

26. Is there a ban on donors to political parties/candidates participating in public tender/procurement processes?
Code
No
27. Are there provisions requiring donations to go through the banking system?
Code
Yes
Comment

Any donation above 25,000 NPR

Question Value
28. Are there provisions for direct public funding to political parties?
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding?
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
No
Source

EU Election Observation Mission Report, 2018

33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?
Code
Not applicable
Comment

Earlier it seems to have been a norm to provide free airtime. However, (a) I could not locate any similar clause in the new laws (b) the EU Election Observation Mission Report, 2018 suggests 10 recommendations, one of which is to provide free airtime which means that provision is absent at the moment.

Source

EU Election Observation Mission Report, 2018

34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates?
Code
No
Source

EU Election Observation Mission Report, 2018

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
Comment

Criminal Offence

Source

Nirvachan (Kasur tatha Sajay) Aen, 2073, Art. 20/21

39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend?
Code
Yes
Source

Election Commission Act, Art. 24-26

40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit?
Code
Every party was free to spend up to NPR 200,000 (€1,639) per PR candidate seeking a seat in the House of Representatives and up to NPR 150,000 (€1,229) per PR candidate running for a seat in a provincial assembly.
Source

Final Report EU EOM Nepal, 2018, p.20

41. Are there limits on the amount a candidate can spend?
Code
Yes
Comment

First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) candidates:
• House of Representatives: NPR 2,500,000 ($25,000) per candidate
• State Assembly: NPR 1,500,000 ($15,000) per candidate
Proportional Representation (PR) candidates:
• House of Representatives: NPR 200,000 ($2,000) per candidate
• State Assembly: NPR 150,000 ($1,500) per candidate

Source

IFES 2017

42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit?
Code
As prescribed by the Election Commission
43. Are there limits on the amount that third parties can spend on election campaign activities?
Code
No data
44. Are there limits on traditional media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns?
Code
No data
45. Are there limits on online media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns?
Code
No data
46. Do any other restrictions on online media advertisement (beyond limits) exist?
Code
No data
Question Value
47. Do political parties have to report regularly on their finances?
Code
Yes
Source

Rajnaitik Dal Sambandhi Pahilo Sansodhan (First Act regarding Political Parties) 2017, Art. 41

48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances?
Code
Yes
Comment

Headwise expenses

Source

For each election type, look at the last section of rules titled as 'Miscellaneous' 

49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances?
Code
Yes
Comment

Headwise expenses

50. Do third parties have to report on election campaign finances?
Code
No data
51. Is information in reports from political parties and/or candidates to be made public?
Code
Yes
Comment

In one month

Source

Rajnaitik Dal Sambandhi Pahilo Sansodhan (First Act regarding Political Parties) 2017, Art. 41 (5)

52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors?
Code
Sometimes
Comment

More than 25,000 NPR

53. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized income?
Code
Yes
54. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized spending?
Code
Yes
55. Which institution(s) receives financial reports from political parties and/or candidates?
Code
  • EMB
  • Auditing agency
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations?
Code
  • EMB
  • Special agency for political finance
Comment

Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA)

57. What power is granted to the institution(s) responsible for examining reports and/or investigating violations?
Code
No data
58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions?
Code
  • Forfeiture
  • Loss of nomination of candidate
Comment

Various sanctions over various infractions. Financial forfeiture ranging from 25,000 NPR to 2,50,000 NPR.

Source

Nirvachan (Kasur tatha Sajay) Aen, 2073, Art. 27-31

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