Timor-Leste
2016
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
|
2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates? |
Code
No
|
3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties? |
Code
Yes
|
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
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
|
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
Yes
Comment
All donations from corporations are banned. Source
|
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates? |
Code
No
Source
Parliamentary election law Art 30 & Presidential election law Art 31 (identical) ?Financing of candidacies shall be governed by specific legislation and, with the necessary adaptations, by the applicable norms of the Law on Political Parties? [that law contains no regulation on this issue] (Source: Law on Election to the National Parliament, No. 6/2006, Law on the Election of the President of the Republic, No. 7/2006) |
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
All donations from corporations are banned. Source
|
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates? |
Code
No
Source
Parliamentary election law Art 30 & Presidential election law Art 31 (identical) ?Financing of candidacies shall be governed by specific legislation and, with the necessary adaptations, by the applicable norms of the Law on Political Parties? [that law contains no regulation on this issue] (Source: Law on Election to the National Parliament, No. 6/2006, Law on the Election of the President of the Republic, No. 7/2006) |
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Civil servants who act to influence the choice of voters face USD 1,000 [I$ 1,000] to USD 2,000 [I$ 2,000]fine and two to three years in prison.
|
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
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
Comment
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
Comment
Not applicable
|
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, regularly
Comment
Annualpublic funding is provided to Parliamentary parties, administered by EMB, withamount set by Parliament.
|
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Representation in elected body
Comment
Funding is only available to political parties with parliamentary representation
|
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Equal Proportional to seats received
Comment
Partly equal, partly by seats won
|
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)? |
Code
No
|
32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
No
|
33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
Not applicable
Comment
Not applicable
|
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates? |
Code
No
|
35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding? |
Code
Comment
Political parties are exempt from tax, legal charges and court costs.
|
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 is illegal at least in local government elections
|
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
Comment
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
Comment
Not applicable
|
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
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? |
|
51. Is information in reports from political parties and/or candidates to be made public? |
Code
Yes
Comment
EMB makes reports public not more than 20 days after receiving comments from auditors
|
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors? |
Code
No
|
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
Comment
EMB has mandate to review submitted reports, using its own or external auditors.
|
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations? |
Code
Comment
EMB,Prosecution service |
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
Comment
Raising funds from illegal sources carries fine from USD 500 [I$ 500] to USD 5,000 [I$ 5,000] or prison six months to two years. (Vote buying can bring fine USD 500 [I$ 500] to USD 1,000 [I$ 1,000] or prison one to two years
|
