Political Finance Database

There is however a limit on how much foreigners may contribute which is EUR 1,000.

The following shall be excluded from the right of political parties to accept donations: [...] donations from sources outside the territorial scope of this Act unless: a) these donations accrue directly to a political party from the assets of a German as defined by the Basic Law, of a citizen of the European Union, or of a business enterprise, of whose shares more than 50 per cent are owned by Germans as defined by the Basic Law or by a citizen of the European Union or whose registered office is located in a Member State of the European Union; b) they are donations transferred to parties of national minorities in their traditional settlement areas from countries which are adjacent to the Federal Republic of Germany and where members of their ethnic group live; or c) it is a donation not exceeding 1,000 euros made by a foreignerThere is however a limit on how much foreigners may contribute which is EUR 1,000. The following shall be excluded from the right of political parties to accept donations: [...] donations from sources outside the territorial scope of this Act unless: a) these donations accrue directly to a political party from the assets of a German as defined by the Basic Law, of a citizen of the European Union, or of a business enterprise, of whose shares more than 50 per cent are owned by Germans as defined by the Basic Law or by a citizen of the European Union or whose registered office is located in a Member State of the European Union; b) they are donations transferred to parties of national minorities in their traditional settlement areas from countries which are adjacent to the Federal Republic of Germany and where members of their ethnic group live; or c) it is a donation not exceeding 1,000 euros made by a foreigner

Party members who receive donations on behalf of their party shall immediately pass them onto the party administration.

(2) The following shall be excluded from the right of political parties to accept donations: 2. donations from political foundations, corporate entities,...

But indirectly, since party members who receive donations on behalf of their party shall immediately pass them onto the party administration.

Donations from charitable organizations and from trade unions, professional associations, and industrial or commercial associations are prohibited.

Party members who receive donations on behalf of their party shall immediately pass them onto the party administration.

Anonymous donations over EUR 500 are prohibited as are donations in cash over EUR 1,000. No separate reporting either during or shortly after an electoral period is required, except for donations exceeding EUR 50,000 which must be reported immediately.25 Sources of donations totaling above EUR 10,000 within one year must be included in the annual report. Parties are also required to report on the amount of donations, without providing the name of the donor, for contributions above EUR 3,300 per citizen

Party members who receive donations on behalf of their party shall immediately pass them onto the party administration.

Anonymous donations over EUR 500 are prohibited as are donations in cash over EUR 1,000. No separate reporting either during or shortly after an electoral period is required, except for donations exceeding EUR 50,000 which must be reported immediately.25 Sources of donations totaling above EUR 10,000 within one year must be included in the annual report. Parties are also required to report on the amount of donations, without providing the name of the donor, for contributions above EUR 3,300 per citizen.

Political parties may accept donations from companies – with the exclusion, however, of companies which are, entirely or in part, in public ownership or are managed or operated by public agencies if the state’s direct participation amounts to more than 25 per cent.

Public facilities can only be made available to parties if all parties are treated equally. 

(1) Where a public authority makes facilities available to political parties or provides them with other public contributions and services, equal treatment shall be accorded to all political parties. The extent to which such facilities or services will be provided may be scaled back, in accord-ance with the respective importance of the various parties, to the minimum extent required for achieving the given party’s purpose. The importance of a political party will, in particular, be assessed on the basis of the results obtained in previous parliamentary elections. For a political party represented in the German Bundestag by a parliamentary group, the extent of such facili-ties, contributions or services must amount to at least half of those granted to any other political party.

Share of votes in previus election. Flat rate by votes received; share of expenses reimbursed; funding cannot be higher than the private funds raised by the party. Flat rate per vote received (rate lower after the first 4 million votes). Also matching funds (EUR 0.38 per EUR 1 donated for donations below EUR 3,300). Funding can however not be higher than the private funds raised by the party

Share of votes in previus election. Flat rate by votes received; share of expenses reimbursed; funding cannot be higher than the private funds raised by the party. Flat rate per vote received (rate lower after the first 4 million votes). Also matching funds (EUR 0.38 per EUR 1 donated for donations below EUR 3,300). Funding can however not be higher than the private funds raised by the party

Media time is allocated both equally and proportionally (share of seats). According to the Constitutional Court, equal opportunities imply that all parties running for a specific election receive some media time. Even though large parties receive more time, small parties are partly privileged to make sure they can also launch some spots in the media.

Whosoever undertakes to buy or sell a vote for an election or ballot in the European Parliament or in a parliament of the Federation, the member states, municipalities or municipal associations, shall be liable to imprisonment of not more than five years or a fine.‌

Annually.

Parties only required to differentiate between election and day-to-day costs in their annual financial reports.

Donors must be identified if contribution larger than EUR 500  and disclosed if value of donations exceeds EUR 10,000 in one year.

(3) If the total amount of donations made, and contributions paid by elected representatives/officials, to a political party or to one or more of its regional/local branches exceeds 10,000 euros in any one calendar year (accounting year), they shall be recorded, together with the names and addresses of the donors and the total amount, in the statement of accounts. Single donations in excess of 50,000 euros shall be reported immediately to the President of the German Bundestag. The latter shall in a timely manner publish the donation, together with the donor’s name, as a Bundestag printed paper.

The President of the Bundestag

The President of the Bundestag; The Comptroller's Office/Audit Office