Costa Rica
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
1. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Donations from foreign interests and from abroad are banned. Ban does not apply to international organisations devoted to the development of the culture or thedefence of democratic values. Such organizations can make donations? aimed to training and capacity building programmes of thepolitical parties.
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2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Candidates cannot receive donations from any source other than the nominating political party.
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3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
All donations from legal persons are banned.
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4. Is there a ban on corporate donations to candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Ban applies to legal persons and all private donations directly to candidates. Allcontributions must? be channeled through the nominating political party. |
5. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
All donations from legal entities banned.
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6. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
All donations from legal entities banned.
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7. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to political parties? |
Code
Yes
|
8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
No anonymous contributions are allowed.Moreover, no contribution from any legal source can be made directly to thecandidates.
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9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
All donations from juridical persons are banned. Source
ARTÍCULO 128.- "Prohibición de la contribución de extranjeros y personas jurídicas. Prohíbese a los extranjeros y a las personas jurídicas de cualquier naturaleza y nacionalidad efectuar, directa, indirectamente o en forma encubierta, contribuciones, donaciones o aportes, en dinero o en especie, para sufragar los gastos de los partidos políticos. […]" (Source: (Código Electoral, Ley No. 8765, August 2009 (Electoral Law))) |
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
All donations from corporations to candidates are banned. Source
ARTÍCULO 125.- "Financiamiento a los candidatos o precandidatos. Prohíbese el financiamiento privado directamente a los candidatos o precandidatos oficializados por los partidos políticos a cualquier cargo de elección popular. […]" ARTÍCULO 128.- "Prohibición de la contribución de extranjeros y personas jurídicas. Prohíbese a los extranjeros y a las personas jurídicas de cualquier naturaleza y nacionalidad efectuar, directa, indirectamente o en forma encubierta, contribuciones, donaciones o aportes, en dinero o en especie, para sufragar los gastos de los partidos políticos. […]" (Source: (Código Electoral, Ley No. 8765, August 2009 (Electoral Law))) |
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
All donations from juridical persons are banned. Source
ARTÍCULO 128.- "Prohibición de la contribución de extranjeros y personas jurídicas. Prohíbese a los extranjeros y a las personas jurídicas de cualquier naturaleza y nacionalidad efectuar, directa, indirectamente o en forma encubierta, contribuciones, donaciones o aportes, en dinero o en especie, para sufragar los gastos de los partidos políticos. […]" (Source: (Código Electoral, Ley No. 8765, August 2009 (Electoral Law))) |
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
All donations from corporations to candidates are banned. Source
ARTÍCULO 125.- "Financiamiento a los candidatos o precandidatos. Prohíbese el financiamiento privado directamente a los candidatos o precandidatos oficializados por los partidos políticos a cualquier cargo de elección popular. […]" ARTÍCULO 128.- "Prohibición de la contribución de extranjeros y personas jurídicas. Prohíbese a los extranjeros y a las personas jurídicas de cualquier naturaleza y nacionalidad efectuar, directa, indirectamente o en forma encubierta, contribuciones, donaciones o aportes, en dinero o en especie, para sufragar los gastos de los partidos políticos. […]" (Source: (Código Electoral, Ley No. 8765, August 2009 (Electoral Law))) |
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate? |
Code
Yes
Comment
No civil servant can take part in campaign activities or debates during office hours, or use its position to benefit any political party or candidate. There are strict rules regarding the announcement of public works during the campaign period.
|
14. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period? |
Code
Yes, for natural persons
Comment
Individual contributions are limited to 45 times the minimum wage accumulated in each presidential period. Source
"Additionally, total private contributions cannot exceed 45 times the country’s minimum wage, accumulated in each presidential period". (Source: CRINIS. 2007. Money in Politics- Everyone's concern. http://www.transparency.org/content/download/28773/434476/file/CRINIS_report_english.pdf) |
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
45 times minimum wage
Comment
Private contributions cannot exceed 45 times the country?s minimum wage, accumulated in each presidential period
|
16. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election? |
Code
No
Comment
The law explicitly states that the amount of contributions or donations made by individuals is not subject to any limit.
|
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
Yes, for both natural and legal persons
Comment
No donations can be made directly to candidates. Source
ARTÍCULO 125.- "Financiamiento a los candidatos o precandidatos. Prohíbese el financiamiento privado directamente a los candidatos o precandidatos oficializados por los partidos políticos a cualquier cargo de elección popular. Toda contribución deberá canalizarse por medio de quien ocupe la tesorería del partido político. […]" ARTÍCULO 135.- "Donaciones y aportes de personas físicas nacionales. Las personas físicas nacionales podrán destinar contribuciones, donaciones o cualquier otro tipo de aporte, en dinero o en especie, a los partidos, sin limitación alguna en cuanto a su monto. […]" (Source: (Código Electoral, Ley No. 8765, August 2009 (Electoral Law))) |
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? |
|
21. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to political parties? |
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22. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to candidates? |
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23. Is there a ban on political parties engaging in commercial activities? |
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24. Is there a ban on political parties taking loans in relation to election campaigns? |
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25. Is there a ban on candidates taking loans in relation to election campaigns? |
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26. Is there a ban on donors to political parties/candidates participating in public tender/procurement processes? |
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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
State contribution applies to electoral processes of president, vicepresidents, national deputies and municipal authorities. Public funding applies also to the needs of organization and training of the political parties; both in electoral and non electoral periods
|
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Comment
To be eligible to receive public funding a party shall obtain at least 4% of the valid votes cast at any election, or obtain at least one seat in the National or a Provincial Assembly, and fully prove their expenses to the EMB.
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30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Proportional to votes received
Comment
Parties receive a given amount for each votecast in their favour in each national election.
|
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)? |
Code
No
Comment
Nevertheless in order to get public fundingafter an election, parties are obliged to fully prove that they invested thefunds in either campaign expenses or ordinary activities of party organizationor training.
|
32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
No
Comment
However, Article 139 of the Electoral Act does mandate that businesses and media registered with TSE must ensure equal treatment to all political parties participating in the elections.
|
33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
Not applicable
|
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates? |
Code
No
Comment
Public funding is given to political parties, not candidates.
|
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
Comment
Although it is each party that determines how to distribute the direct public funding, they have to provide a certificate on the equal amount of resources used to the training of both genders. If that certificate is not provided, the money spent in that area will not be reinstated.
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| Question | Value |
|---|---|
38. Is there a ban on vote buying? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Any effective action or attempt to induce any voterin any way will be prosecuted and punished with jail from two months to up toone year.
|
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? |
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44. Are there limits on traditional media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns? |
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45. Are there limits on online media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns? |
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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
During non election periods, parties are obliged to inform quarterly about all contributions and donations that they receive.
|
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances? |
Code
Yes
Comment
During election periods, parties are obliged to inform monthly about all contributions and donations that they receive.
|
49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances? |
Code
No
Comment
Regular financial reports have to be submitted by the political parties, not by individual candidates. However, candidate finances are subsumed in party reports.
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50. Do third parties have to report on election campaign finances? |
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51. Is information in reports from political parties and/or candidates to be made public? |
Code
Yes
Comment
All accounting information provided by political parties has to be available to the public through the EMB's website.
|
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors? |
Code
Yes
Comment
The reports must reveal the name, national ID number and amount contributed by each donor. The list of such donors must be made public every October through a national newspaper.
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53. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized income? |
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54. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized spending? |
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55. Which institution(s) receives financial reports from political parties and/or candidates? |
Code
EMB
Comment
There is a special unit within the EMBresponsible to receive and publish all financial reports provided by politicalparties.
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56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations? |
Code
EMB
Comment
The EMB can audit the reports of the politicalparties in order to verify full accomplishment of provisions or clarify anychallenge on the subject matter.
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57. What power is granted to the institution(s) responsible for examining reports and/or investigating violations? |
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58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions? |
Code
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