Netherlands
Question | Value |
---|---|
1. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to political parties? |
Code
No
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) All political parties and candidates may also receive unlimited contributions from private individuals and legal entities. Foreign donations are allowed, as well as, contrary to good practice, anonymous donations of up to EUR 1,000. |
2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates? |
Code
No
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) All political parties and candidates may also receive unlimited contributions from private individuals and legal entities. Foreign donations are allowed, as well as, contrary to good practice, anonymous donations of up to EUR 1,000. |
3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties? |
Code
No
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) All political parties and candidates may also receive unlimited contributions from private individuals and legal entities. Foreign donations are allowed, as well as, contrary to good practice, anonymous donations of up to EUR 1,000. |
4. Is there a ban on corporate donations to candidates? |
Code
No
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) All political parties and candidates may also receive unlimited contributions from private individuals and legal entities. Foreign donations are allowed, as well as, contrary to good practice, anonymous donations of up to EUR 1,000. |
5. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to political parties? |
Code
No
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) All political parties and candidates may also receive unlimited contributions from private individuals and legal entities. Foreign donations are allowed, as well as, contrary to good practice, anonymous donations of up to EUR 1,000. |
6. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to candidates? |
Code
No
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) All political parties and candidates may also receive unlimited contributions from private individuals and legal entities. Foreign donations are allowed, as well as, contrary to good practice, anonymous donations of up to EUR 1,000. |
7. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to political parties? |
Code
Yes, above certain threshold
Comment
There is no ban on anonymous donations. However, the amount of anonymous donation is limited to EUR 1,000. Source
1. If a political party receives an anonymous financial contribution of more than € 1,000, it will transfer the part that exceeds the amount of € 1,000 to the appropriate account of Our Minister. If a political party receives an anonymous contribution in kind of more than € 1,000, it will transfer the part of the counter value that exceeds the amount of € 1,000 to Our Minister, or it will cancel the contribution. All political parties and candidates may also receive unlimited contributions from private individuals and legal entities. Foreign donations are allowed, as well as, contrary to good practice, anonymous donations of up to EUR 1,000. |
8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates? |
Code
Yes, above certain threshold
Comment
There is no ban on anonymous donations. However, the amount of anonymous donation is limited to EUR 1,000. Source
1. If a political party receives an anonymous financial contribution of more than € 1,000, it will transfer the part that exceeds the amount of € 1,000 to the appropriate account of Our Minister. If a political party receives an anonymous contribution in kind of more than € 1,000, it will transfer the part of the counter value that exceeds the amount of € 1,000 to Our Minister, or it will cancel the contribution. All political parties and candidates may also receive unlimited contributions from private individuals and legal entities. Foreign donations are allowed, as well as, contrary to good practice, anonymous donations of up to EUR 1,000. |
9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties? |
Code
No
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) All political parties and candidates may also receive unlimited contributions from private individuals and legal entities. Foreign donations are allowed, as well as, contrary to good practice, anonymous donations of up to EUR 1,000. |
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates? |
Code
No
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) All political parties and candidates may also receive unlimited contributions from private individuals and legal entities. Foreign donations are allowed, as well as, contrary to good practice, anonymous donations of up to EUR 1,000. |
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties? |
Code
No
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) All political parties and candidates may also receive unlimited contributions from private individuals and legal entities. Foreign donations are allowed, as well as, contrary to good practice, anonymous donations of up to EUR 1,000. |
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates? |
Code
No
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) All political parties and candidates may also receive unlimited contributions from private individuals and legal entities. Foreign donations are allowed, as well as, contrary to good practice, anonymous donations of up to EUR 1,000. |
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate? |
Code
No
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) |
14. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period? |
Code
No
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) All political parties and candidates may also receive unlimited contributions from private individuals and legal entities. Foreign donations are allowed, as well as, contrary to good practice, anonymous donations of up to EUR 1,000. |
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
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) All political parties and candidates may also receive unlimited contributions from private individuals and legal entities. Foreign donations are allowed, as well as, contrary to good practice, anonymous donations of up to EUR 1,000. |
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
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) All political parties and candidates may also receive unlimited contributions from private individuals and legal entities. Foreign donations are allowed, as well as, contrary to good practice, anonymous donations of up to EUR 1,000. |
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
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) All political parties and candidates may also receive unlimited contributions from private individuals and legal entities. Foreign donations are allowed, as well as, contrary to good practice, anonymous donations of up to EUR 1,000. |
21. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
However, only anonymous donations (both cash and in-kind) are limited. The limit of amount is to EUR 1,000. Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) All political parties and candidates may also receive unlimited contributions from private individuals and legal entities. Foreign donations are allowed, as well as, contrary to good practice, anonymous donations of up to EUR 1,000. |
22. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Only anonymous donation (both cash and in-kind) are limited. The limit of amount is to EUR 1,000. Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) All political parties and candidates may also receive unlimited contributions from private individuals and legal entities. Foreign donations are allowed, as well as, contrary to good practice, anonymous donations of up to EUR 1,000. |
23. Is there a ban on political parties engaging in commercial activities? |
Code
No
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) |
24. Is there a ban on political parties taking loans in relation to election campaigns? |
Code
No
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) |
25. Is there a ban on candidates taking loans in relation to election campaigns? |
Code
No
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) |
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
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) However, the law does not provide for any post-election reporting requirements and there is no legal obligation for electoral contestants to appoint an electoral manager or use a single dedicated bank account for financing. |
Question | Value |
---|---|
28. Are there provisions for direct public funding to political parties? |
Code
Yes, regularly
Source
1. After a request to that effect, Our Minister will provide a subsidy to a political party if, on the reference date, that party has 1,000 members who have meeting and voting rights in the political party and each pay a minimum of € |
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Source
1. After a request to that effect, Our Minister will provide a subsidy to a political party if, on the reference date, that party has 1,000 members who have meeting and voting rights in the political party and each pay a minimum of € 12 a year. Membership is evidenced by an express declaration of intent from the person concerned. Parliamentary parties that have at least 1,000 members and one seat in parliament are entitled to receive public funding and may use the public subsidy for broadly defined activities, including campaign activities. |
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Equal
Proportional to seats received
Number of members
Source
1. The grant shall not exceed the sum of the following amounts: Article 7(1) of the PFA states that public funding is allocated to all parliamentary parties that have at least 1,000 members with voting rights, who each pay an annual contribution of at least EUR 12. The annual public grant consists of a general amount allocated to each eligible political party, an amount per seat and an amount per member which are both provided annually in proportion to the number of seats a party has in parliament and to the number of contributing members of the party, respectively. |
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)? |
Code
Source
The grant is awarded for expenditure directly related to the following activities: |
32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
Yes
Source
1. The Commissioner allocates a number of hours per year on the general program channels of the national public media service to political parties that have acquired one or more seats in the last election of the members of the House of Representatives of the House of Representatives. |
33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
Equal
Source
1. The Commissioner allocates a number of hours per year on the general program channels of the national public media service to political parties that have acquired one or more seats in the last election of the members of the House of Representatives of the House of Representatives. |
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates? |
Code
No
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) Source: Media Act, 2003 (amended 2020) |
35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding? |
Code
Yes
Source
1 Deductible donations are: |
36. Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties tied to gender equality among candidates? |
Code
No
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) |
37. Are there provisions for other financial advantages to encourage gender equality in political parties? |
Code
No
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) |
Question | Value |
---|---|
38. Is there a ban on vote buying? |
Code
Yes
Source
1 A person who, in an election by gift or promise, bribes a voter to authorize the casting of his vote, shall be liable to a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months or a third-category fine. |
39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend? |
Code
No
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) The legislation does not impose expenditure ceilings on either political parties or candidates. |
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
No
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) The legislation does not impose expenditure ceilings on either political parties or candidates. |
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit? |
Code
Not applicable
|
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
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) The legislation does not further specify the conduct of the campaign in public and private media beyond the free airtime allocation. |
45. Are there limits on online media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns? |
Code
No
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) |
46. Do any other restrictions on online media advertisement (beyond limits) exist? |
Code
No
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) |
Question | Value |
---|---|
47. Do political parties have to report regularly on their finances? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Political parties have to report on their finances annually. Source
1 Before 1 July of each calendar year, a political party shall send to Our Minister: |
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances? |
Code
No
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) |
49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances? |
Code
No
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) |
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
Source
A financial report held by Our Minister is public. Source: Art. 25.4, Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) While there is no legal deadline for publishing the parties’ annual reports, positively, the MoIKR does publish the reports by 1 October on the same year. |
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors? |
Code
Sometimes
Source
1 Before 1 July of each calendar year, a political party shall send to Our Minister: |
53. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized income? |
Code
Yes
Source
1. A political party shall keep records such that it provides a reliable picture of the party's financial position by including: |
54. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized spending? |
Code
No
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) |
55. Which institution(s) receives financial reports from political parties and/or candidates? |
Code
Comment
Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (MoIKR) Supervisory committee on the finances of political parties Source
1. There is a Committee on the Supervision of Finance of Political Parties, hereinafter referred to as: the Committee. |
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations? |
Code
Comment
Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (MoIKR) Supervisory committee on the finances of political parties Source
1. There is a Committee on the Supervision of Finance of Political Parties, hereinafter referred to as: the Committee. |
57. What power is granted to the institution(s) responsible for examining reports and/or investigating violations? |
Code
Refer for investigation
Request additional information from potential violator
Impose sanctions
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) The MoIKR may impose a range of financial sanctions of up to EUR 25,000 in case of failure to record contributions and debts, failure to submit a financial report, non-compliance with disclosure requirements, or acceptance of anonymous donations above the established threshold. In case a political party is a recipient of public funding, the amount of the fines will be withdrawn from the subsidy. In case of criminal infringements of regulations, the MoIKR has to turn to the Public Prosecutor and eligibility for public funds can be suspended for up to four years. The MoIKR decisions can be appealed to the Council of State. |
58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions? |
Code
Source
Source: Political Parties Financing Act, 2013 (amended 2019) The MoIKR may impose a range of financial sanctions of up to EUR 25,000 in case of failure to record contributions and debts, failure to submit a financial report, non-compliance with disclosure requirements, or acceptance of anonymous donations above the established threshold. In case a political party is a recipient of public funding, the amount of the fines will be withdrawn from the subsidy. In case of criminal infringements of regulations, the MoIKR has to turn to the Public Prosecutor and eligibility for public funds can be suspended for up to four years. The MoIKR decisions can be appealed to the Council of State. |