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Slovakia

2016

2018

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2023

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 Comment Ban does not apply to foreign political parties, groups of political parties or legal persons established or owned in majority by a political party.
2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates?	Code Yes Comment Natural persons must have permanent residency in the Slovak Republic, and legal persons be registered there to contribute to a Presidential candidate.
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 Comment Separate rules exist for Presidential candidates finance, these do not include a ban on corporate donations.
5. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to political parties?	Code Yes
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 Comment Identification required on all donations over ?200 in one calendar year.
8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates?	Code Yes Comment The same rules apply for presidential and independent candidates, including the post of president of self-governing regions and city mayors.
9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties?	Code No Source P 8, 'A number of restrictions apply to the sources of this funding. Pursuant to Section 24 of Act 85/2005, political parties are prohibited from receiving gifts and services free of charge15 from state, regional or municipal entities16, legal persons established by these entities or in which theyhave shares...' (Source: GRECO (2008) Evaluation Report on the Slovak Republic, Transparency of Political Party Funding (Theme II))
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates?	Code No Source P 9f, '35. Presidential candidates may receive private funding for his/her publicity campaign18 in the form of gifts and services free of charge, from permanent residents of the Slovak Republic, legal entitieshaving their registered seat in the Slovak Republic and from political parties and movementsregistered in the Slovak Republic.36. Few restrictions apply to the sources of this funding. Donations and services free of charge fromthe state, state bodies or self-governing bodies are explicitly prohibited, as are foreign donations (or at least in as far as the donors are not also resident in the Slovak Republic or are an entitywith its registered seat in the Slovak Republic).' (Source: GRECO (2008) Evaluation Report on the Slovak Republic, Transparency of Political Party Funding (Theme II)) 'Article 5: Financing the Election Campaign fro the President of the Slovak Republic's Election (...) (4) The presidential candidate may not accept a donation or any other gratuitous service for the election campaign from: a) the state, the National Property Fund of the Slovak Republic, the Slovak Land Fund, a municipality, or a superiorterritorial unit. 4 b) a legal person whose founder or promoter is the state, the National Property Fund of the Slovak Republic, the Slovak Land Fund, a municipality, or a superior territorial unit. c) a legal person with the capital participation of the state, the National Property Fund of the Slovak Republic, the Slovak Land Fund, a municipality, or a superior territorial unit. ' (Source: Act No. 181/2014 Coll. on Election Campaigns and the Amending and Supplementing Act No. 85/2005 Coll. on Political Parties and Political Movements)
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties?	Code Yes Source P 8, 'A number of restrictions apply to the sources of this funding. Pursuant to Section 24 of Act 85/2005, political parties are prohibited from receiving gifts and services free of charge15 from state, regional or municipal entities16, legal persons established by these entities or in which theyhave shares...' (Source: GRECO (2008) Evaluation Report on the Slovak Republic, Transparency of Political Party Funding (Theme II))
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates?	Code Yes Source P 9f, '35. Presidential candidates may receive private funding for his/her publicity campaign18 in the form of gifts and services free of charge, from permanent residents of the Slovak Republic, legal entitieshaving their registered seat in the Slovak Republic and from political parties and movementsregistered in the Slovak Republic.36. Few restrictions apply to the sources of this funding. Donations and services free of charge fromthe state, state bodies or self-governing bodies are explicitly prohibited, as are foreign donations (or at least in as far as the donors are not also resident in the Slovak Republic or are an entitywith its registered seat in the Slovak Republic).' (Source: GRECO (2008) Evaluation Report on the Slovak Republic, Transparency of Political Party Funding (Theme II)) 'Article 5: Financing the Election Campaign fro the President of the Slovak Republic's Election (...) (4) The presidential candidate may not accept a donation or any other gratuitous service for the election campaign from: a) the state, the National Property Fund of the Slovak Republic, the Slovak Land Fund, a municipality, or a superiorterritorial unit. 4 b) a legal person whose founder or promoter is the state, the National Property Fund of the Slovak Republic, the Slovak Land Fund, a municipality, or a superior territorial unit. c) a legal person with the capital participation of the state, the National Property Fund of the Slovak Republic, the Slovak Land Fund, a municipality, or a superior territorial unit. ' (Source: Act No. 181/2014 Coll. on Election Campaigns and the Amending and Supplementing Act No. 85/2005 Coll. on Political Parties and Political Movements)
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate?	Code Yes
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 Comment NA
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 Comment NA
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 Comment NA
20. Is there a limit on the amount a candidate can contribute to their own election campaign?
21. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to political parties?
22. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to candidates?
23. Is there a ban on political parties engaging in commercial activities?
24. Is there a ban on political parties taking loans in relation to election campaigns?
25. Is there a ban on candidates taking loans in relation to election campaigns?
26. Is there a ban on donors to political parties/candidates participating in public tender/procurement processes?
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, both regularly and in relation to campaigns Comment Direct public funding is provided after elections and annually.
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding?	Code Representation in elected body Share of votes in previous election Comment Part of funding to political parties that gained 3% of votes in last election. Parties also receive funding per each seat held in the parliament.
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding?	Code Proportional to votes received Proportional to seats received Comment Exclusively proportional. Ongoing funding; Part proportionate to votes won, part proportionate to seats. Campaign funding; proportionate to votes won in just concluded election (funds provided post-election).
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)?	Code Must not be used for loans, settling fines, donations or to support Presidential election campaigns
32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?	Code No Comment No, political parties and candidates are responsible for media costs (see Article 10(6)). However, there are regulations to ensure equal media access for all parties and candidates.
33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?	Code Equal Other Comment Media access for parties is not free or subsidized, but there are regulations to ensure equal access to media for all parties.
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates?	Code No Comment Presidential Candidates must pay the costs for media, but there are regulations to ensure equal media access for all candidates (see question 23).
35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding?	Code Yes Support to Parliamentarians (incl salaries for support staff etc). Comment Free public transport and support to Parliamentarians (incl salaries for support staff etc). Places should be provided for advertising. Parties do not pay taxes on donations.
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 Vote buying was criminalized in 2011. Source Criminal Code (300/2005 Coll.), ? 336a ("Electoral corruption")
39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend?	Code Yes Comment Spending limit applies for parties involved in election campaigns.
40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit?	Code Limit of 12,000,000 SKK [around I$ 698,000] for political parties on advertising.The campaign spending limit is EUR 3,000,000 for each party that nominated a candidate list. Comment There is a limit of 12.000.000 SKK for political parties on advertising and campaigning expenses. Note: the euro was introduced in 2009, but the law does not discuss the method and rate of exchange from the original 1994 amount in SKK.
41. Are there limits on the amount a candidate can spend?	Code Yes Comment A limit exists for the presidential elections candidates.
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit?	Code Limit for presidential candidates is EUR 500,000 [I$], specific limits apply for indpendent candidates and candidates for self-governing regions and municipal elections.
43. Are there limits on the amount that third parties can spend on election campaign activities?
44. Are there limits on traditional media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns?
45. Are there limits on online media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns?
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 Annually
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances?	Code Yes Comment Political parties must draw up a final report on election campaign costs. A special account is to be established by a political party for each separate election campaign. Information on the special account is to be accessible to the public. The political party is required to notify the Ministry of the Interior in paper form or electronic form about the website address on which these data are to be displayed.
49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances?	Code Yes Comment Candidates have to establish a separate election campaign account which information is continuously accessible to the public and institutions.
50. Do third parties have to report on election campaign finances?
51. Is information in reports from political parties and/or candidates to be made public?	Code Yes Comment Political parties must produce a final report of campaign finances, which is to be made public on the Ministry of Interior's website. Parties also have to establish a separate election campaign account which information is continuously accessible to the public and institutions.
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors?	Code Sometimes Comment A special audit account is set up where name of contributor has to be stated.
53. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized income?
54. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized spending?
55. Which institution(s) receives financial reports from political parties and/or candidates?	Code EMB Ministry Other Comment The State Commission for the Elections and Control of Political Parties Funding acts as an independent body to oversee the funding of political parties and political movements. The Ministry of Interior and the District Office are responsible for controlling election campaigns.
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations?	Code Ministry Other Comment National council and Ministry of Finance makes formal checks of party reports. Ministry of Finance also checks reports from Presidential candidates.
57. What power is granted to the institution(s) responsible for examining reports and/or investigating violations?
58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions?	Code Fines Prison Forfeiture Comment A range of administrative sanctions are in place; for example, that the failure of a political party to submit its annual accounts on time leads to a fine of ?3 500.

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