Political Finance Database

Only Latvian citizens and persons who have the right to receive an Aliens passport of the Republic of Latvia are allowed to make donations for political parties.

Section 4. Gifts (Donations)

(1) In accordance with the restrictions referred to in Section 6 of this Law, political organizations (parties) may accept gifts (donations) from:

1) Latvian citizens;

2) persons who in accordance with law have the right to receive an Alien's passport of the Republic of Latvia;

All financial activities by a candidate are considered as financial activities of his/her respective nominating political party.

8.4(4.1) If a separate candidate has performed individual pre-election canvassing campaign, then the funds spent on this campaign shall be included in the pre-election expenses of the political organization (party) from whose submitted list of candidates this person is standing in the relevant elections.

With the amendment in force from 12.03.2004, all donations from legal persons are banned.

With the amendment in force from 12.03.2004, all donations from legal persons are banned. All financial activities by a candidate are considered as financial activities of his/her respective nominating political party.

With the amendment in force from 12.03.2004, all donations from legal persons are banned.

With the amendment in force from 12.03.2004, all donations from legal persons are banned. All financial activities by a candidate are considered as financial activities of his/her respective nominating political party.

Section 7. Prohibition on Anonymous Gifts (Donations)

1. Financing of political organizations (parties) in the form of anonymous gifts (donations) is prohibited.

Financing of political organizations (parties) in the form of anonymous gifts (donations) is prohibited. All financial activities by a candidate are considered as financial activities of his/her respective nominating political party.

With the amendment in force from 12.03.2004, all donations from legal persons are banned.

With the amendment in force from 12.03.2004, all donations from legal persons are banned. All financial activities by a candidate are considered as financial activities of his/her respective nominating political party.

Section 33. Prohibition of the Use of Administrative Resources

(2) Within the meaning of this Section, the use of administrative resources shall be considered use of financial resources, movable and immovable property or provision of services of a State authority and an authority of derived public persons and capital companies, in which the capital shares (stocks) belong to the State or derived public persons, as well as of the capital companies, in which capital shares (stocks) owned by one or more State capital companies or capital companies of derived public persons individually or in aggregate exceed 50 per cent, for conduction of pre-election campaign, as well as advertising of these authorities for payment within the period of 30 days before the elections, if the relevant advertisement with regard to its content is related to reflecting of a deputy candidate, political party, association of political parties, as well as candidates for the post of the Prime Minister or a Minister nominated by a administrative bodies of a political party or association political parties, or reflecting a person related to a political party or an association of political parties or reflecting of activities by such a candidate or person.

All financial activities by a candidate are considered as financial activities of his/her respective nominating political party.

8.4(4.1) If a separate candidate has performed individual pre-election canvassing campaign, then the funds spent on this campaign shall be included in the pre-election expenses of the political organization (party) from whose submitted list of candidates this person is standing in the relevant elections.

Article 33. (1) Use of administrative resources in pre -election campaign is prohibited.

Section 4. Gifts (Donations)

(2) A natural person is allowed to make a gift (a donation) to one political organisation (a party) for the sum not exceeding the amount of 20 minimum monthly salaries over a period of one calendar year.

Section 3. Joining Fee, Membership Fee and Gifts (Donations) Made by a Member to a Political Organisation (Party)

(1) The total amount of the payments of joining fee and membership fee and gifts (donations) made by a member for one political organisation (party) may not exceed 50 minimum monthly salaries over a period of one calendar year.

However, for parties, who are receiving public funding, stricter rules apply:

Section 2. Sources of Financing

(3.1)If a party receives the funding and is represented in the parliament, the total amount of all payments from a natural person may not exceed five minimum monthly salaries

(3.2) If a party receives public funding, but in the last parliamentary elections has received more than 2 but less than 5 per cent of votes, the total amount of all payments from a natural person may not exceed 12 minimum monthly salaries

Section 4. Gifts (Donations)

(2) A natural person is allowed to make a gift (a donation) to one political organisation (a party) for the sum not exceeding the amount of 20 minimum monthly salaries over a period of one calendar year.

For parties receiving public funding, stricter rules apply. See Articles 2(3.1) and 2(3.2),

Donations from legal persons to a party are banned. The law does not specify that a donation must be made in relation to an election or not, hence the regular limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party applies.

The law does not specify that a donation must be made in relation to an election or not, hence the regular limit applies. If a party is receiving public funding, stricter rules apply for the total amount of donations.

Any contribution from legal persons is banned, as well as the law permits natural persons to only make donations to political parties and not to individual candidates. A donation that exceeds one minimum monthly wage has to be transferred to the party`s bank account, and all financial activities by a candidate are considered as financial activities of his/her respective nominating political party.

All financial activities by a candidate are considered as financial activities of his/her respective nominating political party.

Section 4. Gifts (Donations)

(2) A natural person is allowed to make a gift (a donation) to one political organisation (a party) for the sum not exceeding the amount of 20 minimum monthly salaries over a period of one calendar year

Section 2. Sources of Financing

(2) Within the meaning of this Law, a gift (donation) is any financial or other types of gratis benefits including services, transfer of rights, release of a political organisation (party) from an obligation, refusal from any right in favour of a political organisation (party), as well as other activities by which any benefit is granted to the political organisation (party). Within the meaning of this Law, a gift (donation) is also a transfer of movable or immovable property to the ownership of the political organisation (party) and provision of services to the political organisation (party) for a charge lower than the market value of the relevant movable or immovable property or service.

All financial activities by a candidate are considered as financial activities of his/her respective nominating political party.

Section 2. Sources of Financing

(1) The political organisations (parties) may be financed from:

3) the income earned by economic activities of the relevant political organisation (party).

Section 6. Financing Restrictions

(5) Political organisations (parties) are prohibited to take loans

All financial activities by a candidate are considered as financial activities of his/her respective nominating political party.

No restrictions are mentioned.

Section 6. Financing Restrictions

(2) All gifts (donations) of financial assets the sum of which exceeds one minimum monthly salary shall be transferred directly into the bank account of the relevant political organisation (party), but other gifts (donations) shall be given, transferred or submitted directly and without mediation to the relevant political organisation (party).

Section 7.¹ State Budget Financing

(1)State budget financing shall be granted to the political organisation (party) for which more than two percent of voters have voted in the previous Saeima elections, in a calendar year:

1) EUR 4,50 for each vote acquired in the previous Saeima elections; 2) EUR 0,50 for each vote acquired in the previous municipal elections; 3) EUR 0,50 for each vote acquired in the previous European Parliament elections

(2)Additional EUR 100`000 in a calendar year shall be granted to a political organisation (party) for which more than two percent of voters have voted in the previous Saeima elections

(3) State budget financing is granted for four years and paid starting from the next calendar year after the Saeima elections. Payments are made twice a year

State budget financing shall be granted to the political organisation (party) for which more than two percent of voters have voted in the previous Saeima elections

State budget financing shall be granted to the political organisation (party) for which more than two percent of voters have voted in the previous Saeima elections

Section 7.⁴ Spending of the State Budget Financing

(1) A political organisation (party) shall spend the State budget financing for the provision of political and economic activity thereof and is entitled to spend it for:

1) for the maintenance of the office and employees of a political organization (party);

2) for providing meaningful activities, for example, seminars, congresses, conferences, research works, surveys, youth organization events, consultations;

3) for public communication activities, including political campaigns

Section 6. Right to the State Ensured Free of Charge Broadcasting Time

(1) Deputy candidates who are on the list of deputy candidates of the same title have rights to use the State ensured free of charge broadcasting time for the pre-election campaign in the first television and radio programme of the public electronic mass media

Section 9. Procedure for Use of the State Ensured Free of Charge Broadcasting Time

(1) The State ensured free of charge broadcasting time for pre-election campaign may be used by all deputy candidates, who are in the list of deputy candidates of the same title, together or, upon reaching an agreement, by some of them. The relevant public electronic mass medium shall be notified on such agreement in each individual case.

Section 9. Procedure for Use of the State Ensured Free of Charge Broadcasting Time

(3) The State ensured free of charge broadcasting time may be used by the deputy candidates who are in the relevant list of deputy candidates at their discretion.

Section 5. Tax Relief

Natural persons who have, in compliance with the provisions of this Law, gifted (donated) financial resources or property to a political organisation (party) shall be exempted from the payment of the relevant State fees.

Connection between direct public funding and gender equality among candidates is not identified.

Financial benefits to increase gender equality are not identified.

Section 90. Hindrance of Exercising the Right to Vote, the Right to Participate in Initiation of Legislation, Initiation of National Referendums and Supporting of the European Citizens' Initiative

(2) For a person who knowingly commits hindrance of exercising the right to freely elect members of the parliament and to be elected or to freely participate in a national referendum organised in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Latvia, by the use of violence, fraud, threats, payoffs, or other unlawful means, the applicable punishment is the deprivation of liberty for a period of up to three years or temporary deprivation of liberty, or community service, or a fine.

Restrictions for the amount of pre-election expenses exist. Different limits are set according to the level of elections.

Any financial activity of a candidate will be considered as financial activities of a respective political party. Therefore all the expenditures will be regarded as expenditures of a political party's and the threshold will be applied.

Any financial activity of a candidate will be considered as financial activities of a respective political party. Therefore all the expenditures will be regarded as expenditures of a political party's and the threshold will be applied.

(4¹) If a separate candidate has performed individual pre-election canvassing campaign, then the funds spent on this campaign shall be included in the pre-election expenses of the political organisation (party) from whose submitted list of candidates this person is standing in the relevant elections.

Unrelated person (a natural person, a legal person or a registered association of such persons who is not affiliated with political parties, their associations or electoral associations) can conduct a pre-election campaign in their own name.

(2)Unrelated person for pre-election campaign may use resources not exceeding 15 minimum monthly wages. A minimum monthly wage within the meaning of this Law shall be the amount of the minimum monthly wage which was determined on 1 January of the relevant calendar year.

Section 13. Pre-election Campaign in the Programmes of Foreign Electronic Mass Media

Electronic mass media, which are providing retransmission of programmes by foreign electronic mass media in Latvia shall include a provision in the contract with the relevant foreign electronic mass medium that during the period of pre-election campaign programmes to be re-transmitted in Latvia may not include campaign materials on political parties, its associations and voters associations.

Section 8.5 Annual Report

(1)A political organisation (party) shall prepare an annual report on each reporting year

(2) A political organisation (party) shall, not later than by 31 March each year, submit the annual report to the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau using the Electronic data entry system

Section 8.² Declaration of Income and Expenses of Elections

(1)The political organisations (parties) which have submitted their lists of candidates for the election to the Saeima, local government councils or the European Parliament shall via the Electronic data entry system submit to the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau a declaration of income and expenses of elections signed by the authorised person of the relevant political organisation (party) thereof in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet within 30 days after the election of the Saeima, local government councils or the European Parliament.

(2) The declaration of income and expenses of elections shall disclose all the revenues and expenses which have been incurred over the period from the 120^th day before the elections up to the election day, regardless of the date when a document attesting the transaction has been written out

All financial activities by a candidate are considered as financial activities of his/her respective nominating political party.

Section 9. Transparency of Financial and Economic Activities

(1) The financial and economic activities of political organisations (parties) shall be transparent and publicly available.

(2) Any person shall have the right to apply to the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau and to the relevant political organisation (party) for familiarisation with the annual report, the annual declaration of financial activities, the declaration of expenses during the pre-election period, the statement on the planned election expenses and the declaration of income and expenses of elections thereof.

(3) The declarations and statement referred to in Paragraph two of this Section shall be published in the official gazette Latvijas Vēstnesis and on the Internet according to the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet not later than 10 days after submission thereof.

Section 7. Prohibition on Anonymous Gifts (Donations)

(1) Financing of the political organisations (parties) in the form of anonymous gifts (donations) is prohibited.

(2) Within the meaning of this Law, a gift (donation) is anonymous if in the accounting documents of the political organisation (party) the given name, surname, personal identification number and place of residence in respect of the giver (donor) - a natural person - are not indicated.

(3) If a political organisation (party) receives an anonymous gift (donation), such financial resources shall be transferred to the State budget within five days of the receipt thereof, but property shall be transferred to State property in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet.

Information on gifts (donations) received by parties is published on the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau website, indicating its type, amount, date of receipt, as well as the natural person who made the gift (donation). Gifts (donations) that have not been accepted or have been repaid are also indicated.

Section 4. Gifts (Donations)

(3)Within 15 days after receipt of a gift (donation) the political organisation (party) shall inform the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau thereof. The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau shall publish information on its Internet homepage about the gifts (donations) received by a political organisation (party). The information to be indicated in the report of a political organisation (party) and the procedures for the submission thereof, as well as the procedures by which information about the gifts (donations) received by a political organisation (party) shall be published and the content of this information shall be determined by the Cabinet.

Parties must submit detailed information about their spending in the pre-election time and must report on itemized spending of the State budget financing.

Section 8.2 Declaration of Income and Expenses of Elections

(2) The declaration of income and expenses of elections shall disclose all the revenues and expenses which have been incurred over the period from the 120th day before the elections up to the election day, regardless of the date when a document attesting the transaction has been written out

Section 8.5 Annual Report

(2²) When submitting the annual report of a political organisation (party) to the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau, the political organisations (parties), to which the State budget financing has been granted shall append a report on spending of the State budget financing in the accounting year, indicating the remainder of money at the beginning and end of the accounting year, money income and money payments for the types of expenditure laid down in Section 7.⁴, Paragraph one of this Law.

Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau

Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau

Section 2.(5) the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau may request that the natural person who has given a gift (donation), paid in membership fee or
joining fee, submits a filled-in form regarding his or her income, money savings, debt liabilities and properties.

Section 7.3 (1) The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau shall take a decision on refusal to grant State budget financing to a political organisation (party);

Section 7.3 (2)Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau shall take a decision to suspend the disbursement of State budget financing.

Section 7.4 (3) Upon a request of the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau the political organisation (party) shall submit documents justifying the spending of the State budget financing thereto.

Section 8.2 (3) The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau shall perform an audit of declarations of income and expenses of elections

Section 10.(1.1) If the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau identifies a violation, the Head of the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau has a duty to charge the relevant political party to repay the illegally acquired financial assets to the payer within 30 days.

The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau imposes sanctions according to the violation.  Sanctions for each type of violation are laid down in Section 10 in the Law on Financing of Political Organisations (Parties).

According to the Criminal Law, for the illegal financing of political organisations (parties) or associations of political organisations, deprivation of liberty, temporary deprivation of liberty, or community service, or a fine are the applicable punishments. The same accounts for the acceptance of illegal financing and for the blackmailing of illegal financing of political organisations.