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Political Finance Database

Finland

Finland

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
Comment

However, a party may receive foreign contributions only from individuals and from such international associations and foundations that represent the party's ideological attitude.

Source

Article 8b - Act on Political Parties (1969) last amended in 2010.
2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates?
Code
Yes
Comment

However, a candidate may receive foreign contributions for the election campaign only from individuals  and from international associations and foundations that represent the candidate's ideological views. 

Source

Article 4 - Act on Candidate's Election Funding (2009) last amended in 2015.
3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties?
Code
No
Comment

There is no ban, but a limit on the amount a single donor can contribute to a political party (EUR 30,000 per calendar year). 

Source

Article 8b - Act on Political Parties (1969) last amended in 2010.
4. Is there a ban on corporate donations to candidates?
Code
No
Comment

There is no ban, but a limit on the amount, per calendar year, a single donor can contribute to a candidate's campaign (EUR 3,000 in municipal elections, EUR 6,000 in parliamentary elections, EUR 10,000 in European elections). 

Source

Article 4 - Act on Candidate's Election Funding (2009) last amended in 2015.
5. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to political parties?
Code
No
Comment

There is no ban, but a limit on the amount a single donor can contribute to a political party (EUR 30,000 per calendar year). 

Source

Article 8b - Act on Political Parties (1969) last amended in 2010.
6. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to candidates?
Code
No
Comment

There is no ban, but a limit on the amount, per calendar year, a single donor can contribute to a candidate's campaign (EUR 3,000 in municipal elections, EUR 6,000 in parliamentary elections, EUR 10,000 in European elections). 

Source

Article 4 - Act on Candidate's Election Funding (2009) last amended in 2015.
7. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to political parties?
Code
Yes
Comment

A party may not receive contributions that cannot be identified. However, this ban does not apply to regular collections. 

Source

Article 8b - Act on Political Parties (1969) last amended in 2010.
8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates?
Code
Yes
Comment

A candidate may not receive contributions that cannot be identified. However, this ban does not apply to regular collections. 

Source

Article 4 - Act on Candidate's Election Funding (2009) last amended in 2015.
9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties?
Code
Yes
Comment

A party  may not receive contributions from the state, municipalities, municipalities, state or municipal businesses, public-law associations, establishments or foundations or from companies in which the state or a municipality has a controlling influence.

Source

Article 8b - Act on Political Parties (1969) last amended in 2010.
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates?
Code
Yes
Comment

A candidate may not receive contributions for the election campaign from the state, municipalities, municipalities, state or municipal business, public-law associations, institutions or foundations or from companies such as the state or a municipality has decisive influence.

 

Source

Article 4 - Act on Candidate's Election Funding (2009) last amended in 2015.
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties?
Code
Yes
Comment

A party  may not receive contributions from the state, municipalities, municipalities, state or municipal businesses, public-law associations, establishments or foundations or from companies in which the state or a municipality has a controlling influence.

Source

Article 8b - Act on Political Parties (1969) last amended in 2010.
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates?
Code
Yes
Comment

A candidate may not receive contributions for the election campaign from the state, municipalities, municipalities, state or municipal business, public-law associations, institutions or foundations or from companies such as the state or a municipality has decisive influence.

Source

Article 4 - Act on Candidate's Election Funding (2009) last amended in 2015.
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate?
Code
Yes
Source

Article 10 - Act on Political Parties (1969) last amended in 2010.

 
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
Comment

There is an annual limit on the amount a single donor can contribute to a political party (EUR 30,000 per calendar year). 

Source

Article 8b - Act on Political Parties (1969) last amended in 2010.

 
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
There is an annual limit on the amount a single donor can contribute to a political party (EUR 30,000 per calendar year).
Source

Article 8b - Act on Political Parties (1969) last amended in 2010.
16. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election?
Code
No
Comment

There is no specific limit in relation to an election. However, there is an annual, general limit on the amount a single donor can contribute to a political party (EUR 30,000 per calendar year), see question 16. 

Source

Article 8b - Act on Political Parties (1969) last amended in 2010.
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
There is an annual limit on the amount a single donor can contribute to a political party (EUR 30,000 per calendar year).
18. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate?
Code
Yes, for both natural and legal persons
Source

Article 4 - Act on Candidate's Election Funding (2009) last amended in 2015.
19. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate, what is the limit?
Code
There is a limit on the amount, per calendar year, a single donor can contribute to a candidate's campaign (EUR 3,000 in municipal elections, EUR 6,000 in parliamentary elections, EUR 10,000 in European elections).
Source

Article 4 - Act on Candidate's Election Funding (2009) last amended in 2015.
20. Is there a limit on the amount a candidate can contribute to their own election campaign?
Code
Yes, donation limit for private persons apply
Comment

There is a limit on the amount, per calendar year, a single donor can contribute to a candidate's campaign (EUR 3,000 in municipal elections, EUR 6,000 in parliamentary elections, EUR 10,000 in European elections).

Source

Article 4 - Act on Candidate's Election Funding (2009) last amended in 2015.
21. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to political parties?
Code
No
Comment

In-kind donations are largely unregulated. For in-kind donations, contestants are obliged to give voluntary estimate of the donations they include in the financial reports. Some OSCE/ODIHR NAM interlocutors raised concerns that this issue is not sufficiently regulated and might be potentially misused by some contestants.

OSCE/ODIHR (2018) Republic of Finland, Presidential Election, 28 January 2018. OSCE/ODIHR Needs Assessment Mission Report. OSCE/ODIHR, Warsaw.
22. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to candidates?
Code
No
Source

In-kind donations are largely unregulated. For in-kind donations, contestants are obliged to give voluntary estimate of the donations they include in the financial reports. Some OSCE/ODIHR NAM interlocutors raised concerns that this issue is not sufficiently regulated and might be potentially misused by some contestants.

OSCE/ODIHR (2018) Republic of Finland, Presidential Election, 28 January 2018. OSCE/ODIHR Needs Assessment Mission Report. OSCE/ODIHR, Warsaw.
23. Is there a ban on political parties engaging in commercial activities?
Code
No
Source

In this respect, private support to political parties may be provided through membership fees, lotteries, income from property, collections, sales of newspapers/ party publications and contributions.

GRECO (2007), Evaluation Report on Finland on Transparency of Party Funding, p.7.
24. Is there a ban on political parties taking loans in relation to election campaigns?
Code
No
25. Is there a ban on candidates taking loans in relation to election campaigns?
Code
No data
26. Is there a ban on donors to political parties/candidates participating in public tender/procurement processes?
Code
No data
27. Are there provisions requiring donations to go through the banking system?
Code
No
Question Value
28. Are there provisions for direct public funding to political parties?
Code
Yes, regularly
Source

Article 9 - Act on Political Parties (1969) last amended in 2010.
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding?
Code
Representation in elected body
Comment

Public funding is provided to all political parties that have at least one representative in the parliament in proportion to the number of seats held.

OSCE/ODIHR (2015) Republic of Finland, Parliamentary Elections, 19 April 2015. OSCE/ODIHR Needs Assessment Mission Report. OSCE/ODIHR, Warsaw.

Source

Article 9 - Act on Political Parties (1969) last amended in 2010.
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding?
Code
Proportional to seats received
Source

Article 9 - Act on Political Parties (1969) last amended in 2010.
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)?
Code
No
32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?
Code
Yes
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
No
35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding?
Code
Yes
Source

The donations received by political parties, constituency associations and support groups of a given candidate are exempt from tax. Donations to an individual candidate are considered as gifts liable to taxation if the amount received from the same donor over a period of three years comes to or exceeds 3,400 EUR.

GRECO (2007) Evaluation Report on Finland on Transparency of Party Funding (Theme II), p.7.

Free use of the postal service for the purpose of contacting voters is very common internationally (including, for example, Austria, Finland, France, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom).

Cost of Democracy: Essays on Political Finance in Latin America. International IDEA. 2016, p.13.
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
Yes, funding to women's wings
Source

All political parties have to allocate 12 per cent of their annual party subsidy to support women's wings (Yearly decision of the government). 
Question Value
38. Is there a ban on vote buying?
Code
Yes
Source

Article 2 - Criminal Code (1889)
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
No
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit?
Code
Not applicable
43. Are there limits on the amount that third parties can spend on election campaign activities?
Code
No
44. Are there limits on traditional media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns?
Code
No
Source

Paid political advertisement in private media including online is allowed.

OSCE/ODIHR (2018) Republic of Finland, Presidential Election, 28 January 2018. OSCE/ODIHR Needs Assessment Mission Report. OSCE/ODIHR, Warsaw.
45. Are there limits on online media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns?
Code
No
Source

Paid political advertisement in private media including online is allowed.

OSCE/ODIHR (2018) Republic of Finland, Presidential Election, 28 January 2018. OSCE/ODIHR Needs Assessment Mission Report. OSCE/ODIHR, Warsaw.
46. Do any other restrictions on online media advertisement (beyond limits) exist?
Code
No
Source

Paid political advertisement in private media including online is allowed.

OSCE/ODIHR (2018) Republic of Finland, Presidential Election, 28 January 2018. OSCE/ODIHR Needs Assessment Mission Report. OSCE/ODIHR, Warsaw.
Question Value
47. Do political parties have to report regularly on their finances?
Code
Yes
Comment

Political parties have to submit to the State Audit Office and the Ministry of Justice, within three months of the approval of their financial statement and on an annual basis, certified copies of the income statement and balance sheet, as well as the audit report.

Source

Article 9d - Act on Political Parties (1969) last amended in 2010.
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances?
Code
Yes
Comment

A party has to submit to the National Audit Office a campaign finance report relating to the campaign period for each general election. 

Source

Article 9b - Act on Political Parties (1969) last amended in 2010.
49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances?
Code
Yes
Comment

The reports must be submitted to the National Audit Office within two months after the election results have been established. 

Source

Articles 5 and 8 - Act on Candidate's Election Funding (2009) last amended in 2015.
50. Do third parties have to report on election campaign finances?
Code
No
51. Is information in reports from political parties and/or candidates to be made public?
Code
Yes
Comment

The National Audit Office publishes all financial reports online and reports to the parliament annually.

Source

Articles 9e and f - Act on Political Parties (1969) last amended in 2010.

Article 10 - Act on Candidate's Election Funding (2009) last amended in 2015.

 
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors?
Code
Sometimes
Comment

Political parties and/ or candidates have to disclose donations if the value of such contributions exceeds EUR 1,500 (and EUR 800 in municipal elections). Below these amounts, parties/ candidates need the consent for disclosure from the donor.

Source

Article 9b - Act on Political Parties (1969) last amended in 2010.

Article 6 - Act on Candidate's Election Funding (2009) last amended in 2015.
53. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized income?
Code
Yes
Source

Article 9b - Act on Political Parties (1969) last amended in 2010.

Article 6 - Act on Candidate's Election Funding (2009) last amended in 2015.

Also, GRECO (2007), Evaluation Report on Finland on Transparency of Party Funding, p.9 and 10. 

The Ministry of Justice has issued a standardized form for reporting election financing of a registered political party. Campaign revenues are to be itemized as follows:

  • Party subsidies;
  • Subsidies from own organization (monetary aid from the party, member organizations or members);
  • Other subsidies for election activities (granted by other than the party’s own members);
  • Sale proceeds (e.g. lotteries);
  • Proceeds from publishing activities (e.g. advertisements);
  • Other election financing (reserves and funds, loans, other financing).

 

Campaign expenditure is to be recorded as follows:

  • Newspaper adverting;
  • Radio and television advertising;
  • Direct marketing;
  • Other election advertising (e.g. posters, videos, brochures which are not included in the expenditure items above);
  • Subsidies for election activities;
  • Election events;
  • Other expenses of election activities (e.g. loan instalments, financing costs, training costs, acquisition of materials, salaries and fees, etc.).

 
54. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized spending?
Code
Yes
Source

Article 9b - Act on Political Parties (1969) last amended in 2010.

Article 6 - Act on Candidate's Election Funding (2009) last amended in 2015.

Also, GRECO (2007), Evaluation Report on Finland on Transparency of Party Funding, p.9 and 10. 

The Ministry of Justice has issued a standardized form for reporting election financing of a registered political party. Campaign revenues are to be itemized as follows:

  • Party subsidies;
  • Subsidies from own organization (monetary aid from the party, member organizations or members);
  • Other subsidies for election activities (granted by other than the party’s own members);
  • Sale proceeds (e.g. lotteries);
  • Proceeds from publishing activities (e.g. advertisements);
  • Other election financing (reserves and funds, loans, other financing).

 

Campaign expenditure is to be recorded as follows:

  • Newspaper adverting;
  • Radio and television advertising;
  • Direct marketing;
  • Other election advertising (e.g. posters, videos, brochures which are not included in the expenditure items above);
  • Subsidies for election activities;
  • Election events;
  • Other expenses of election activities (e.g. loan instalments, financing costs, training costs, acquisition of materials, salaries and fees, etc.).
55. Which institution(s) receives financial reports from political parties and/or candidates?
Code
  • Ministry
  • Auditing agency
Comment

Ministry of Justice is responsible for controlling public funding accounting and the proper use of such funds.  The National Audit Office is tasked with the oversight of political party annual reports and all campaign finance reports.

Source

Article 9d - Act on Political Parties (1969) last amended in 2010.

Article 8 - Act on Candidate's Election Funding (2009) last amended in 2015.
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations?
Code
  • Ministry
  • Auditing agency
Source

Article 9e - Act on Political Parties (1969) last amended in 2010.

Article 10 - Act on Candidate's Election Funding (2009) last amended in 2015.
57. What power is granted to the institution(s) responsible for examining reports and/or investigating violations?
Code
Request additional information from potential violator Impose sanctions
Source

Article 9e - Act on Political Parties (1969) last amended in 2010.

Article 10 - Act on Candidate's Election Funding (2009) last amended in 2015.

See also: OSCE/ODIHR (2018) Republic of Finland, Presidential Election, 28 January 2018. OSCE/ODIHR Needs Assessment Mission Report. OSCE/ODIHR, Warsaw, p.7. 

The NAO is vested with sanctioning powers in situations where required documents or information are not submitted, corrected or completed. According to the 2000 Act on National Audit Office, the NAO has discretion to determine the amount of the sanction. Sanctions are imposed following repeated reminders to correct a mistake or submit a missing document. 
58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions?
Code
  • Fines
  • Loss of public funding
Source

Article 9e - Act on Political Parties (1969) last amended in 2010.

Article 10 - Act on Candidate's Election Funding (2009) last amended in 2015.
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