Switzerland
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
1. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Donations from Swiss citizens living abroad are not considered as foreign donations. Source
Article 76h, Federal Law on Political Rights, 1976 as amended in 2021 |
2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Donations from Swiss citizens living abroad are not considered as foreign donations Source
Article 76h, Federal Law on Political Rights, 1976 as amended in 2021 |
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
Yes
Source
Article 76h, Federal Law on Political Rights, 1976 as amended in 2021. |
8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates? |
Code
Yes
Source
Article 76h, Federal Law on Political Rights, 1976 as amended in 2021. |
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
No
|
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
No public funding available
Comment
However, parliamentary groups do receive some public funding. A few cantons, such as Geneva and Fribourg, grant public subsidies to parties and/or partial reimbursement of campaign expenditures. Source
Cf: Loi fédérale 171.21 sur les moyens alloués aux membres de l’Assemblée fédérale et sur les contributions allouées aux groupes; OSCE/ODIHR (2019) Swiss Confederation, Federal Assembly Elections, 20 October 2019. OSCE/ODIHR Needs Assessment Mission Report. OSCE/ODIHR, Warsaw. |
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Not applicable
|
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 data
|
33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
No data
|
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates? |
Code
No data
|
35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Tax deductions for donations to political parties. Source
GRECO, Third Evaluation Round, Evaluation Report on Switzerland Transparency of Political Party Funding (Theme II), 2011. GRECO, Strasbourg |
36. Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties tied to gender equality among candidates? |
Code
Not applicable
|
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
Source
Article 281, Criminal Code, 1937: Any person who offers, promises, or gives a voter or arranges for a voter to be given a gift or other advantage in return for voting in a particular way, or in return for signing or refusing to sign a request for a referendum or an initiative, any person who offers, promises, or gives a voter or arranges for a voter to be given a gift or other advantage in return for not participating in an election or vote, and any person who as a voter secures the promise of or arranges for himself to be given such an advantage, is liable to a custodial sentence not exceeding three years or to a monetary penalty. |
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
Yes, for political parties
Yes, for candidates
Comment
Ban on political advertising in broadcast media but not in print and digital media. Source
Article 10(1)d, Federal Act on Radio and Television 784.40, 2006 |
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
Parliamentary groups must declare to the competent authority all sources of financing and notably all annual monetary and in-kind donations above CHF 15,000 per donor. Deputies at the Federal Assembly who do not belong to a parliamentary group must declare to the competent institution all annual monetary and in-kind donations above CHF 15,000 per donor . Source
Article 76b, Federal Law on Political Rights, 1976 as amended in 2021 |
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances? |
Code
Yes
Comment
If more than CHF 50,000 are spent on voting campaigns and electoral campaigns, the budgeted revenues, the final statement of revenues and all donations (monetary and in-kind) exceeding CHF 15,000 per author and in the 12 months prior to the vote or election day must be declared. The budgeted income must be provided 45 days before the vote or election day and the final statement on income and donations 60 days after the vote or the election. Not applicable to the Council of States election. Source
Article 76c, Federal Law on Political Rights, 1976 as amended in 2021 |
49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances? |
Code
Yes
Comment
If more than CHF 50,000 are spent on voting campaigns and electoral campaigns, the budgeted revenues, the final statement of revenues and all donations (monetary and in-kind) exceeding CHF 15,000 per author and in the 12 months prior to the vote or election day must be declared. The budgeted income must be provided 45 days before the vote or election day and the final statement on income and donations 60 days after the vote or the election. Not applicable to the Council of States election. Source
Article 76c, Federal Law on Political Rights, 1976 as amended in 2021 |
50. Do third parties have to report on election campaign finances? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Natural or legal persons campaigning for the election of a member of the Council of States and who spent more than CHF 50,000 for this purpose must provide a final statement on income and declare all the monetary and in-kind donations exceeding CHF 15,000. Source
Article 76c(3), Federal Law on Political Rights, 1976 as amended in 2021 |
51. Is information in reports from political parties and/or candidates to be made public? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Campaign finance reports are published within 15 days fro their receipt by the competent authority and donations above the publication threshold, i.e. CHF 15,000 are published as they are declared to the competent body. Source
Article 76f, Federal Law on Political Rights, 1976 as amended in 2021 |
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors? |
Code
Yes
Comment
For monetary and in-kind donations above CHF 15,000, the name and residence of the natural person or the name and registered office of the legal person must be reported. Source
Article 76d(4), Federal Law on Political Rights, 1976 as amended in 2021 |
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
No Institution specified
|
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations? |
Code
No institution specified
|
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
Source
Article 76e, Federal Law on Political Rights, 1976 as amended in 2021 |
58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions? |
Code
Fines
Comment
Violation of political finance rules can result in a fine of up to CHF 40,000 Source
Article 76j, Federal Law on Political Rights, 1976 as amended in 2021 |
