Political Finance Database

Greece

Greece

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
Comment
foreign donations are banned, both form natural and legal persons.
2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates?
Code
Yes
Comment
candidates cannot receive foreign donations, both form natural and legal persons.
3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties?
Code
Yes
4. Is there a ban on corporate donations to candidates?
Code
Yes
5. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to political parties?
Code
Yes
Comment
All donations from legal entities banned.
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
Comment

All donations from corporations are banned.

Source
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates?
Code
Yes
Comment

All donations from corporations are banned

Source
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
Yes
Comment

All donations from corporations are banned

Source
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate?
Code
No data
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

Yes, there are specific limits.

Source

Article 7.- "Art. 8 of Law. 3023/2002 is replaced as follows: "Article 8 private funding limits 1. Private funding of a political party or coalition from the same person, during the year may not exceed the total amount of twenty thousand (20,000) euro." (Source: (Law 4304/2014, which amends Law 3023/2002 "on Financial Control of political parties and elected representatives to the national and European Parliaments, and other provisions”) )

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
Annual limit is EUR 20,000 from the same donor.
16. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election?
Code
Yes, for both natural and legal persons
Comment

Revenues that parties and parties within a coalition can collect for their electoral campaign cannot exceed 150,000 ?.

Source
17. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election, what is the limit?
18. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate?
Code
Yes, for both natural and legal persons
Source
19. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate, what is the limit?
Code
5,000 € per year
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 previous election
  • Number of candidates nominated
Comment
80% provided to parties with Parliamentary representation, 10% to parties with European Parliament representation and 10% to parties that have filed complete lists of candidates in at least 70%?of the constituencies AND received at least 1.5% of valid votes at national level.
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding?
Code
Proportional to votes received
Comment
Proportionally due to number of votes received in last election (both national and European level) .Coalitions entitled to receive public funding should divide that amount between the parties it comprise according to internal agreements.
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)?
Code
  • Campaign spending
  • Ongoing party activities
Comment
A part of state subsidies reserved for election campaigns. Moreover, parties may spend a part of subsidies received for ordinary activities for the functioning of research centres.
32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?
Code
Yes
Comment
Political parties and coalitions have free access to media during pre-election period.
33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?
Code
  • Equal
  • Votes Received
Comment
parliamentary parties receive free media access following a proportional distribution. Instead, non-parliamentary parties received a minimum broadcasting time.
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates?
Code
No
Comment
Same rules apply for both candidates and parties.
35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding?
Code
  • Yes
  • Free phone services
Comment
Provision of outdoor sites free of charge in connection to election campaigns, free mail and phone services for candidates during campaigns, travel costs of candidates covered during campaigns.
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
39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend?
Code
Yes
Comment
In relation to election campaigns.
40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit?
Code
20% of the most recent total annual amount of regular public funding received
41. Are there limits on the amount a candidate can spend?
Code
Yes
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit?
Code
For local elections, the limit is calculated on the basis of the number of seats in their respective constitutency or on the basis of the population in the relevent prefecture or municipality For parliamentary elections, the limit is determined on the basis of the amount applicable for the candidates for election in the A'Electoral Region of Athens.
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
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances?
Code
Yes
Comment
Parties which receive electoral public funding have to report on electoral income and expenditure.
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
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors?
Code
Sometimes
Comment
Only for donations to political parties above EUR 600 [I$ 840] and for donations to candidates to elections above EUR 150 [I$ 210].
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
  • Special agency for political finance
Comment
The Audit Committee,?and the Ministry of the Interior.
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations?
Code
  • Auditing agency
  • Other
  • Special agency for political finance
Comment
Audit Committee, Expenditure Control and Violations Committees, Special Investigative Service under the Ministry of Economy an Finance (YPEE), Local Committees, Chartered Auditors under the Control Committee.
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
  • Prison
  • Forfeiture
  • Loss of public funding
  • Loss of elected office
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