Justice Ministry submits bill on party financing to Government

The Justice Ministry finished the bill with amendments to a number of pieces of legislation concerning the financing of parties and sent it to the Government for approval, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to a communiqué from the Ministry, the bill lays down new conditions of financing parties from the state budget and methods of using the money. It obliges the political organizations whose annual incomes or spending exceed 1 million lei to order an audit of the financial reports at least once in three years. There were also delimited the donations made by members and those made to parties. They will be indicated in the accounting documents and financial reports of every party separately. There will be also reduced the contributions of private individuals to 20 average official salaries and of legal entities to 40 average salaries. The role of the Central Election Commission will be strengthened by empowering it to impose penalties for irregularities concerning the financing of parties and election campaigns. The bill contains amendments to at least seven acts, including the Election Code, the Law on Political Parties, the Criminal Code, the Code of Administrative Offenses, the Broadcasting Code, the Tax Code, and the Audit Office Law. The Venice Commission announced it will examine the bill in its plenary session of March 8 and 9 and will make public its opinion on March 11.