Slovakia

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Question Value
1. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to political parties?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentBan does not apply to foreign political parties, groups of political parties or legal persons established or owned in majority by a political party.

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2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentNatural persons must have permanent residency in the Slovak Republic, and legal persons be registered there to contribute to a Presidential candidate.
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3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties?
  • CodeNo
  • Comment
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4. Is there a ban on corporate donations to candidates?
  • CodeNo
  • CommentSeparate rules exist for Presidential candidates finance, these do not include a ban on corporate donations.
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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?
  • CodeNo
  • Comment
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7. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to political parties?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentIdentification required on all donations over ?200 in one calendar year.
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8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentThe same rules apply for presidential and independent candidates, including the post of president of self-governing regions and city mayors.
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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
  • Comment
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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?
  • CodeNo
  • Comment
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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?
  • CodeNot applicable
  • CommentNA
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16. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election?
  • CodeNo
  • Comment
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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
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18. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate?
  • CodeNo
  • Comment
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19. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate, what is the limit?
  • CodeNot applicable
  • CommentNA
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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, both regularly and in relation to campaigns
  • CommentDirect public funding is provided after elections and annually.
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29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding?
  • CodeRepresentation in elected body | Share of votes in previous election
  • CommentPart of funding to political parties that gained 3% of votes in last election. Parties also receive funding per each seat held in the parliament.
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30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding?
  • CodeProportional to votes received | Proportional to seats received
  • CommentExclusively proportional. Ongoing funding; Part proportionate to votes won, part proportionate to seats. Campaign funding; proportionate to votes won in just concluded election (funds provided post-election).
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31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)?
  • Code Must not be used for loans, settling fines, donations or to support Presidential election campaigns
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32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?
  • CodeNo
  • CommentNo, political parties and candidates are responsible for media costs (see Article 10(6)). However, there are regulations to ensure equal media access for all parties and candidates.
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33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?
  • CodeEqual | Other
  • CommentMedia access for parties is not free or subsidized, but there are regulations to ensure equal access to media for all parties.
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34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates?
  • CodeNo
  • CommentPresidential Candidates must pay the costs for media, but there are regulations to ensure equal media access for all candidates (see question 23).
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35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding?
  • CodeYes | Support to Parliamentarians (incl salaries for support staff etc).
  • CommentFree public transport and support to Parliamentarians (incl salaries for support staff etc). Places should be provided for advertising. Parties do not pay taxes on donations.
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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
  • Comment
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Question Value
38. Is there a ban on vote buying?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentVote buying was criminalized in 2011.
  • SourceCriminal Code (300/2005 Coll.), ? 336a ("Electoral corruption")
39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentSpending limit applies for parties involved in election campaigns.
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40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit?
  • Code Limit of 12,000,000 SKK [around I$ 698,000] for political parties on advertising.The campaign spending limit is EUR 3,000,000 for each party that nominated a candidate list.
  • CommentThere is a limit of 12.000.000 SKK for political parties on advertising and campaigning expenses.

    Note: the euro was introduced in 2009, but the law does not discuss the method and rate of exchange from the original 1994 amount in SKK.
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41. Are there limits on the amount a candidate can spend?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentA limit exists for the presidential elections candidates.
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42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit?
  • Code Limit for presidential candidates is EUR 500,000 [I$], specific limits apply for indpendent candidates and candidates for self-governing regions and municipal elections.
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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
  • CommentPolitical parties must draw up a final report on election campaign costs. A special account is to be established by a political party for each separate election campaign. Information on the special account is to be accessible to the public. The political party is required to notify the Ministry of the Interior in paper form or electronic form about the website address on which these data are to be displayed.
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49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentCandidates have to establish a separate election campaign account which information is continuously accessible to the public and institutions.
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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
  • CommentPolitical parties must produce a final report of campaign finances, which is to be made public on the Ministry of Interior's website. Parties also have to establish a separate election campaign account which information is continuously accessible to the public and institutions.
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52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors?
  • CodeSometimes
  • CommentA special audit account is set up where name of contributor has to be stated.
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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?
  • CodeEMB | Ministry | Other
  • CommentThe State Commission for the Elections and Control of Political Parties Funding acts as an independent body to oversee the funding of political parties and political movements. The Ministry of Interior and the District Office are responsible for controlling election campaigns.
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56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations?
  • CodeMinistry | Other
  • CommentNational council and Ministry of Finance makes formal checks of party reports. Ministry of Finance also checks reports from Presidential candidates.
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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
  • CommentA range of administrative sanctions are in place; for example, that the failure of a political party to submit its annual accounts on time leads to a fine of ?3 500.
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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.