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Political Finance Database

Croatia

Croatia

2016
2018
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?
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
Yes
6. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to candidates?
Code
Yes
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
9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties?
Code
Yes
Source

Art 22, [Prohibition of income from] 'governmental bodies, public enterprises, legal persons vested with public authority, companies and other legal persons in which the Republic of Croatia or any local and regional governmental unit has any interest or shares, as well as public and other institutions owned by the Republic of Croatia or any local and regional governmental unit;' (Source: Political Activity and Electoral Campaign Financing Act, 2011)
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates?
Code
Yes
Source

Art 22, [Prohibition of income from] 'governmental bodies, public enterprises, legal persons vested with public authority, companies and other legal persons in which the Republic of Croatia or any local and regional governmental unit has any interest or shares, as well as public and other institutions owned by the Republic of Croatia or any local and regional governmental unit;' [the same rules apply for the donations of the parties that is applicable for the candidates](Source: Political Activity and Electoral Campaign Financing Act, 2011)
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties?
Code
Yes
Source

Art 22, [Prohibition of income from] 'governmental bodies, public enterprises, legal persons vested with public authority, companies and other legal persons in which the Republic of Croatia or any local and regional governmental unit has any interest or shares, as well as public and other institutions owned by the Republic of Croatia or any local and regional governmental unit;' (Source: Political Activity and Electoral Campaign Financing Act, 2011)
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates?
Code
Yes
Source

Art 22, [Prohibition of income from] 'governmental bodies, public enterprises, legal persons vested with public authority, companies and other legal persons in which the Republic of Croatia or any local and regional governmental unit has any interest or shares, as well as public and other institutions owned by the Republic of Croatia or any local and regional governmental unit;' [the same rules apply for the donations of the parties that is applicable for the candidates](Source: Political Activity and Electoral Campaign Financing Act, 2011)
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
Yes, for both natural and legal persons
Source

 

Art 11, 'The total amount of donations made by a natural person to a political party, independent deputy, national minority deputy, member of the representative body of a local and regional governmental unit, independent slate or candidate shall not exceed HRK 30,000.00 (thirty thousand Croatian kuna) within a single calendar year.The total amount of donations made by a legal person within a single calendar year shall not exceed (i) HRK 200,000.00 (two hundred thousand Croatian kuna) when such donations are made to a political party or a candidate in elections for the President of the Republic of Croatia; (ii)' (Source: Political Activity and Electoral Campaign Financing Act, 2011)
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
Limit is HRK 30,000 [I$ 6,900] per calendar year (natural person); HRK 200,000 [I$ 46,000] (legal person).
16. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election?
Code
No
Comment

Regular limit applies

Source

P 6, 'Section 4 AFPP establishes ceilings for the total amount of donations which may be made by oneperson to a political party in a calendar year, i.e. 90,000 HRK/12,105 EUR in the case of anatural person and 1,000,000 HRK/134,500 EUR in the case of a legal person. Monetarydonations must be paid into the central account of a political party.' (Source: GRECO (2009) Evaluation Report on Croatia, Transparency of Party Funding (Theme II))

Art 11, 'The total amount of donations made by a legal person within a single calendar year shall not exceed (ii) HRK 100,000.00 (one hundred thousand Croatian kuna) when such donations are made to an independent deputy, a national minority deputy, and an independent slate or a candidate for national minority deputy in the election of deputies to the Croatian Parliament and the election of members of the European Parliament; and HRK 30,000.00 (thirty thousand Croatian kuna) when such donations are made to an independent member of the representative body of a local and regional governmental unit and an independent slate or a candidate in elections at the local or regional level.' (Source: Political Activity and Electoral Campaign Financing Act, 2011)
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
Source

Art 11,
The total amount of donations made by a natural person to a political party, independent deputy, national minority deputy, member of the representative body of a local and regional governmental unit, independent slate or candidate shall not exceed HRK 30,000.00 (thirty thousand Croatian kuna) within a single calendar year.

'The total amount of donations made by a legal person within a single calendar year shall not exceed (ii) HRK 100,000.00 (one hundred thousand Croatian kuna) when such donations are made to an independent deputy, a national minority deputy, and an independent slate or a candidate for national minority deputy in the election of deputies to the Croatian Parliament and the election of members of the European Parliament; and HRK 30,000.00 (thirty thousand Croatian kuna) when such donations are made to an independent member of the representative body of a local and regional governmental unit and an independent slate or a candidate in elections at the local or regional level.' 

(Source: Political Activity and Electoral Campaign Financing Act, 2011)
19. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate, what is the limit?
Code
Limit is HRK 100,000 [I$ 23,000] (National level or European Parliament candidate); HRK 30,000 [I$ 6,900] (local/regional government candidate)
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
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding?
Code
  • Representation in elected body
  • Share of votes in next election
  • Participation in election
Comment
Ongoing funding is only available to political parties with parliamentary representation; Campaign funding also available to other parties if they manage to gain 5% of the vote.
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding?
Code
Equal Proportional to seats received
Comment
An equal amount of funds for each Member of the Croatian Parliament shall be determined, and each political party shall be entitled to funds proportionate to the number parliamentary deputies it has at the time of time of the constitution of the Croatian Parliament.
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)?
Code
Fulfilling the goals defined in the programme and statute of the political party.
Comment
Fulfilling the goals defined in the programme and statute of the political party.
32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?
Code
Yes
Comment

Advertising during election campaigns. 
33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?
Code
Equal
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates?
Code
Yes
35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding?
Code
  • Yes
  • Discount on marketing in public TV/radio
Comment
Political parties are entitled to tax benefits for activities strictly linked to the political activity of a political party. Discount on marketing in public TV/radio.
36. Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties tied to gender equality among candidates?
Code
Yes
Comment
For each elected Member of Parliament representing an underrepresented gender, political parties shall be entitled to a compensation totalling 10 % of the amount envisaged for each Member of Parliament.
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
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
Yes
Comment
Limits were introduced in 2011
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit?
Code
From HRK 50,000 [I$ 11,000] to 8,000,000 [I$ 1,840,000] depending on type of election
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
Reports on donations shall be published by political parties on their website every six months.
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances?
Code
Yes
49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances?
Code
Yes
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
The submitted documents are public and are publicly displayed on the web-site of a political party.
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors?
Code
Yes
Comment
Political parties shall deliver a financial report containing a detailed outline of the sources of funding, information on the natural and legal persons who have made voluntary contributions and information on the purpose of funds.
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
  • Ministry
  • Auditing agency
Comment
Supreme Audit Office in the case of regular funding of political parties, and National Election Commission in the case election campaign funding.?
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations?
Code
  • Ministry
  • Auditing agency
Comment
State Audit Office and National Elections Commission
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
  • Forfeiture
  • Loss of public funding
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