Rwanda
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
1. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Art 24 (2) "A political organization shall not be allowed to accept donations and bequests from foreigners, foreign business companies, industries and organisations involved in other activities or in which foreigners are shareholders."
Source
Organic Law n° 10/2013 Governing Political Organizations and Politicians, 11 July 2013 |
2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
“Article 24: Donations and bequests granted to political organisations and politicians (...) A political organisation or a politician are not allowed to receive donations and bequests granted by: 1º foreigners; 2º foreign States;(...)5º foreign business companies or industries, and organisations owned by foreigners or in which foreigners are shareholders”. Source
Official Gazette nº 37 of 10/09/2018 |
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
Yes
Comment
Art 8. “State assets cannot be used in the activities or interest of a political organisation." Official Gazette nº 37 of 10/09/2018
Art 28 (1) "No Government assets shall be used in the activities or interest of a political organization unless the law so provides." Organic Law n° 10/2013 Governing Political Organizations and Politicians, 11 July 2013 Art 30 "During the electoral campaign, it shall be prohibited to influence or attempt to influence voter’s choice through the following: Electoral Law n° 27/2010, 19 June 2010, as completed and modified by Law no 37/2013, 16 June 2013 Source
Organic Law n° 10/2013 Governing Political Organizations and Politicians, 11 July 2013 Electoral Law n° 27/2010, 19 June 2010, as completed and modified by Law no 37/2013, 16 June 2013 |
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
|
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
Yes, both regularly and in relation to campaigns
Comment
Art 28 (2 and 3)"However, during elections in which political organizations campaign for their candidates, the Government shall provide in its budget grants to political organizations and independent candidates for the campaign activities. The amount of money that shall be entitled to political organizations and independant candidates shall be equal. This money shall be given to political organizations or independent candidates that have scored at least five per cent (5%) of the votes of all the electors."
Source
Organic Law n° 10/2013 Governing Political Organizations and Politicians, 11 July 2013 |
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Registration as a political party
Comment
"Rwandan parties have three main sources of party finance: limited state support channelled through the Forum of Political Parties to all registered parties in equal parts, independent contributions from memberships, and income from party assets."
Source
EU Election Observation Mission Report, 15 – 18 September, Rwanda 2008 |
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Equal
Comment
"Rwandan parties have three main sources of party finance: limited state support channelled through the Forum of Political Parties to all registered parties in equal parts, independent contributions from memberships, and income from party assets."
Source
EU Election Observation Mission Report, 15 – 18 September, Rwanda 2008. |
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)? |
Code
Campaign spending
Comment
Art 28 (2 and 3) "However, during elections in which political organizations campaign for their candidates, the Government shall provide in its budget grants to political organizations and independent candidates for the campaign activities. The amount of money that shall be entitled to political organizations and independant candidates shall be equal. This money shall be given to political organizations or independent candidates that have scored at least five per cent (5%) of the votes of all the electors."
Source
Organic Law n° 10/2013 Governing Political Organizations and Politicians, 11 July 2013 |
32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Art 67 (2) "For State media, the National Electoral Commission shall ensure that equal access to State media is guaranteed to all independent candidates, political organizations and coalitions of political organizations in competition."
Source
Electoral Law n° 27/2010, 19 June 2010, modified by Law n° 49-2015, 2 December 2015 |
33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
Equal
Comment
Art 67 (2) "For State media, the National Electoral Commission shall ensure that equal access to State media is guaranteed to all independent candidates, political organizations and coalitions of political organizations in competition."
Source
Electoral Law n° 27/2010, 19 June 2010, modified by Law n° 49-2015, 2 December 2015. |
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Art 67 (2) "For State media, the National Electoral Commission shall ensure that equal access to State media is guaranteed to all independent candidates, political organizations and coalitions of political organizations in competition."
Source
Electoral Law n° 27/2010, 19 June 2010, amodified by Law n° 49-2015, 2 December 2015. |
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
Art 30 "During the electoral campaign, it shall be prohibited to influence or attempt to influence voter’s choice through the following: 1° illegally use of State property wherever it is; 2° any form of insulting or defamatory statement against another candidate; 3° use of corruption ; 4° any form of discrimination."
Source
Law n° 27/2010, 19 June 2010 as modified by Article 10 of Law n° 37/2013, 16 June 2013 |
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
No
|
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
|
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
Yes
Comment
Art 26 (1 and 2) "A political organization shall always keep its books of accounts and carry out an inventory of movable and immovable assets. A political organization shall submit, not later than the 30 September of the following fiscal year, to the authority in charge of the registration of political organizations its financial statements, with a copy to the Office of Ombudsman." "Article 24: Donations and bequests granted to political organisations and politicians . A political organisation or a politician may receive donations and bequests. When the donations and bequests have the value of at least one million Rwandan francs (FRW 1,000,000), a political organisation or a politician informs in writing the authority in charge of registration of political organisations within thirty (30) days from the date of reception, indicating the donor, the type and value of donations, with a copy to the Office of the Ombudsman."
Source
Organic Law n° 10/2013 Governing Political Organizations and Politicians, 11 July 2013 Official Gazette nº 37 of 10/09/2018 |
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
No
|
50. Do third parties have to report on election campaign finances? |
Code
No
|
51. Is information in reports from political parties and/or candidates to be made public? |
Code
No
|
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Art 24 "A political organization may receive donations and bequests. When the donations and bequests received have the value of at least one million Rwandan francs (1,000,000), the political organization shall inform in writing the authority in charge of registration of political organizations within a period not exceeding thirty (30) days from the date of reception, indicating the donor, the type and value of donations, with a copy to the Office of the Ombudsman."
Source
Organic Law n° 10/2013 Governing Political Organizations and Politicians, 11 July 2013 |
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
No
|
55. Which institution(s) receives financial reports from political parties and/or candidates? |
Code
Special agency for political finance
Comment
Art 26 (2) "A political organization shall submit, not later than the 30 September of the following fiscal year, to the authority in charge of the registration of political organizations its financial statements, with a copy to the Office of Ombudsman."
Source
Organic Law n° 10/2013 Governing Political Organizations and Politicians, 11 July 2013 |
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations? |
Code
Other
Comment
Art 26 (2) "A political organization shall submit, not later than the 30 September of the following fiscal year, to the authority in charge of the registration of political organizations its financial statements, with a copy to the Office of Ombudsman."
Source
Organic Law n° 10/2013 Governing Political Organizations and Politicians, 11 July 2013 |
57. What power is granted to the institution(s) responsible for examining reports and/or investigating violations? |
Code
Impose sanctions
Comment
Article 46: Administrative sanctions imposed on a political organisation that does not submit its books of accounts to the Office of the Ombudsman. Any political organisation that does not submit its books of accounts to the Office of the Ombudsman is subject to one of the following sanctions: formal warnings, suspension of state grants, suspension of political organisation.
|
58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions? |
Code
Comment
Art 46 "Any political organization that does not submit its financial statements to the Office of the Ombudsman, shall face the following sanctions: 1° formal warning and summons to submit in a time limit period its books of accounts, otherwise the State grants allocated to the political organization shall be suspended until the submission of the books of accounts; 2° suspension of activities for a period of one (1) year if after the formal warning, for a second time such a political organization does not respect the date of September 30 of the financial year to abide by the requirements; 3° dissolution where after the sanctions mentioned in items 1° and 2° of this Article the concerned political organization has, for the third time, not respected the date of September 30 of the financial year to abide by the requirements."
Source
Organic Law n° 10/2013 Governing Political Organizations and Politicians, 11 July 2013 |
