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Political Finance Database

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Liechtenstein

2016

2018

2021

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 No
2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates?	Code No
3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties?	Code No
4. Is there a ban on corporate donations to candidates?	Code No
5. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to political parties?	Code No
6. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to candidates?	Code No
7. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to political parties?	Code Yes, above certain threshold Comment Political parties may not accept donations from anonymous donors if the donation in individual cases exceeds CHF 300. Source Law on the allocation of contributions to political parties (1984, last amended 2019), Article 6a(2)
8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates?	Code No
9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties?	Code No
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates?	Code No
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties?	Code No
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates?	Code No
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate?	Code No
14. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period?	Code No
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 Not applicable
16. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election?	Code No
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 Not applicable
18. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate?	Code No
19. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate, what is the limit?	Code Not applicable
20. Is there a limit on the amount a candidate can contribute to their own election campaign?	Code No
21. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to political parties?	Code No
22. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to candidates?	Code No
23. Is there a ban on political parties engaging in commercial activities?	Code No
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
26. Is there a ban on donors to political parties/candidates participating in public tender/procurement processes?	Code No
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 Comment The total amount of public funding is set to CHF 710,000 per year, which is to be divided among the political parties which: a) are represented in the state parliament or b) have participated in the last elections in the two constituencies and obtained at least 3% of the total number of votes. The total amount is distributed among the parties proportionally to the number of votes and paid in semiannual instalments. In addition, each of the political parties represented in the parliament is paid a lump sum of CHF 55,000 annually. Source Law on the payment of contributions to political parties (1984, last amended 2019), Articles 1 - 4
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding?	Code Representation in elected body Share of seats in previous election Comment Representation in Parliament or at least 3% of the votes in the previous election. Source Law on the payment of contributions to political parties (1984, last amended 2019), Articles 1 - 4.
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding?	Code Equal Proportional to votes received Comment One sum proportional to votes gained in the previous election, one fixed sum equal to all parties represented in parliament. Source Law on the payment of contributions to political parties (1984, last amended 2019), Articles 1 - 4.
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)?	Code Ongoing party activities Research and policy initiatives Comment Public funding is allocated to political parties for the purposes of political education, public relations and participation in the development of public policy. Source Law on the payment of contributions to political parties (1984, last amended 2019), Articles 1 - 4
32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?	Code No
33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?	Code Not applicable
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 No
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 Source Penal Code (1988), Section 18
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
45. Are there limits on online media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns?	Code No
46. Do any other restrictions on online media advertisement (beyond limits) exist?	Code No

Question	Value
47. Do political parties have to report regularly on their finances?	Code Yes Comment Each political party has to submit an annual account detailing incomes and expenditures. The account should include a balance sheet, an income statement and an appendix with community contributions as well as accounting and evaluation rules applied. Source Law on the payment of contributions to political parties (1984, last amended 2019), Article 6(1)
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances?	Code No
49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances?	Code No
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 annual financial statements are to be published by political parties on the Internet in an appropriate manner, along with a report from an independent auditor, and stored for at least five years. Source Law on the payment of contributions to political parties (1984, last amended 2019), Article 6(3).
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors?	Code No
53. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized income?	Code Yes Source Law on the payment of contributions to political parties (1984, last amended 2019), Article 6(5)
54. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized spending?	Code Yes Source Law on the payment of contributions to political parties (1984, last amended 2019), Article 6(6)
55. Which institution(s) receives financial reports from political parties and/or candidates?	Code Ministry Comment The government receives annual accounts. Source Law on the payment of contributions to political parties (1984, last amended 2019), Article 5
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations?	Code No institution specified Comment Political parties are responsible for maintaining accurate records of the use of the contributions and keeping the related documents on file. However, at the request of the Finance Office, which decides on the payment of the annual contribution, the Government can commission an independent auditing firm to review the statements. The costs of the review of the statementsare to be sustained by the political party concerned insofar as they were not been properly prepared. Otherwise,, the state bears the costs. Source Act on the Allocation of Contributions to Political Parties (1984, last amended 2019), Art. 5
57. What power is granted to the institution(s) responsible for examining reports and/or investigating violations?	Code Refer for investigation Comment Political parties are responsible for maintaining accurate records of the use of the contributions and keeping the related documents on file. However, at the request of the Finance Office, which decides on the payment of the annual contribution, the Government can commission an independent auditing firm to review the statements. The costs of the review of the statementsare to be sustained by the political party concerned insofar as they were not been properly prepared. Otherwise, the state bears the costs. Source Act on the Allocation of Contributions to Political Parties (1984, last amended 2019), Art. 5
58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions?	Code Fines Comment Unless the offense is punished with a stricter penalty according to other criminal code provisions, there is a fine of CHF 50,000 for provision of false or complete information. In case of negligent inspection, the penalty is reduced to half. Source Act on the Allocation of Contributions to Political Parties (1984, last amended 2019), Art. 6b

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