Latvia

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Question Value
1. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to political parties?
  • CodeYes
  • Comment

    Persons with right to receive an alien passport are excepted from ban.

  • Source
2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentAll financial activities by a candidate are considered as financial activities of his/her respective nominating political party.
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3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties?
  • CodeYes
  • Comment

    No bans on corporate donations to political parties in law.

  • Source
4. Is there a ban on corporate donations to candidates?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentAll financial activities by a candidate are considered as financial activities of his/her respective nominating political party.
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5. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to political parties?
  • CodeYes
  • Comment
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6. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to candidates?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentAll financial activities by a candidate are considered as financial activities of his/her respective nominating political party.
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7. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to political parties?
  • CodeYes
  • Comment
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8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentAccording to the law, all financial activities in relation to elections of a candidate will be considered as financial activities of a respective political party's from which list he/she participates.
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9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties?
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates?
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties?
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates?
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentThere are several provision in different legal acts stating that the state resources are not allowed to be used for other purposes than the public interest and therefore it excludes state resources of being used in favour or against a political party or a candidate.
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14. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period?
  • CodeYes, for natural persons
  • Comment

    For the members of the political organisations there is a special provision.

  • Source

    Section 3:'(1) The amount of membership fees and the entrance fee and the procedure of theirpayment shall be regulated by the statutes of the respective political organisation (party).A political organisation (party) member?s total contributions in the form of entrance fee,membership fees and gifts (donations) to one political organisation (party) must notexceed 100 minimum monthly salaries over a calendar year.'Section 4:'(2) To one political organisation (a party) a natural person is allowed to make a gift (a donation) not exceeding 100 minimum monthly salaries over a period of one calendaryear.' (Source: Law on Financing of Political Organisations (Parties))

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 50 minimum monthly salaries.
  • CommentLimit is 50 minimum monthly salaries over a calendar year.
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16. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election?
17. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election, what is the limit?
  • CodeNot applicable
  • CommentNA
  • Source
18. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate?
19. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate, what is the limit?
  • CodeNot applicable
  • CommentNA
  • Source
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?
  • CodeYes, regularly
  • CommentThe law on Financing of Political Organisations (Parties) was amended by foreseeing the provisions for direct public funding in July 2011. It also stipulates that the direct public funding will be available starting from January 2012.
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29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding?
  • CodeShare of votes in previous election
  • CommentFunding is only available to political parties that received 2% of vote in the previous elections.
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30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding?
  • CodeFlat rate by votes received
  • CommentParties receive flat rate of 0.50 santims [I$ 1,2] for each vote received.
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31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)?
  • CodeCampaign spending | Ongoing party activities
  • CommentBLANK
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32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?
  • CodeYes
  • Comment
  • Source
33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?
  • CodeEqual
  • Comment
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34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates?
  • CodeYes
  • Comment
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35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentThe donors can get tax benefits.
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36. Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties tied to gender equality among candidates?
  • CodeNo
  • Comment
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37. Are there provisions for other financial advantages to encourage gender equality in political parties?
  • CodeNo
  • CommentThere is no provision regarding this topic.?
  • Source

Question Value
38. Is there a ban on vote buying?
  • CodeYes
  • Comment
  • Source
39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentThere are different limits for Parliamentary, Local Government and European Parliament election expenses.
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40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit?
  • Code Multiple of average gross salary and number of voters in the previous election.
  • CommentIn the law on financing of political organisations there are well-described provisions for the limits for spending in the pre-election campaigns.
  • Source
41. Are there limits on the amount a candidate can spend?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentAny 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. 
  • Source
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit?
  • Code 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.
  • Comment
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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?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentAnnually
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48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances?
  • CodeYes
  • Comment
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49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentReports must be submitted 30 days after elections.
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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?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentThe audit of the reports on the pre-election campaign are published. The annual report of the parties is also published. All reports are published online.
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52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors?
  • CodeYes
  • Comment15 days after receipt, parties must publish information about donations incl. the donor, on the internet.
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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?
  • CodeAuditing agency | Other
  • CommentTwo institutions receives the annual report of the political organisations: the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau and State Revenue Service. 

    The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau is a specialised anti-corruption authority of Latvia.
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56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations?
  • CodeOther
  • CommentThe Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau.
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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?
  • CodeFines | Prison | Forfeiture | Loss of public funding | Deregistration of party | Suspension of political party
  • CommentIn 2011 the Criminal Law was amended and the necessary provisions for foreseeing the criminal liability for political finance infractions were included. Therefore, now, for?illegal financing of a political party, intermediation in illegal financing of a party, acceptance of illegal financing, or extortion, an?imprisonment, arrest, forceful labor, or a fine are foreseen.?There are two kinds of forfeiture: Repayment of the illegally acquired financial assets to the payer, or diversion of the funds into the state budget. In some cases the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau is obliged to suspend the activities of the concerned political organisation (party) through court, and in some cases the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau has a duty to initiate termination of the relevant party through court.
  • Source

Disclaimer: Maps presented do not imply on the part of the Institute any judgement on the legal status of any territory or the endorsement of such boundaries, nor does the placement or size of any country or territory reflect the political view of International IDEA. Maps are used in order to add visual clarity to data.