Albania

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Question Value
1. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to political parties?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentGifts or aid from international unions parties, politics organizations or foundations and foreign individuals are allowed.
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2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentElectoral subjects can only obtain funds for the purposes of their electoral campaigns from domestic physical or legal persons.
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3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties?
  • CodeNo
  • CommentDonations are prohibited for legal persons, or any of its shareholders, under certain conditions, see below.
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4. Is there a ban on corporate donations to candidates?
  • CodeNo
  • CommentCorporate donations are prohibited if they comply with a certain set of criteria (see Art 89 (3) below).
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5. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to political parties?
  • CodeNo
  • 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
  • CommentNo direct ban, but de facto ban through requirement to record or report identify of donor.
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8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentNo direct ban, but de facto ban through requirement that each electoral subjects in Albania have to identify the donor clearly in a special register approved by a decision of the CEC.?
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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

    Resources of public organs or entities of a?central or local level cannot be used or made available for the support?of candidates, political parties or coalitions in elections.

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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
  • CommentContribution limits only exist for election campaigns.
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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?
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 1 million ALL [I$ 19,000]
  • Comment
    The amount that each physical or legal person can give to an electoral subject
    cannot be greater than ALL 1 million or the equivalent value in objects or services.
  • 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?
  • Code 1 million ALL [I$ 19,000]
  • Comment
    The amount that each physical or legal person can give to an electoral subject
    cannot be greater than ALL 1 million [I$ 19,000] or the equivalent value in objects or services.
  • 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, both regularly and in relation to campaigns
  • CommentPolitical parties get 'start-up' assistance after registration, and are entitled to public funding if they participate in elections.
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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 | Share of seats in previous election | Participation in election | Registration as a political party
  • CommentParties are provided with public funding in relation to elections.
    Post-registration assistance is also given to political parties as they register.

    Annual funding; portion to parties with Parliamentary representation, portion to parties that received at least 1% in the last election.

    Election funding: 50% to parties with Parliamentary representation; 50% to parties that won two or more seats in the last election (to be returned if they fail to win a seat in the current election).?
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30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding?
  • CodeEqual | Flat rate by votes received | Proportional to seats received
  • CommentAnnual: 20% equally among Parliamentary parties, 70% according to seats won; 10% according to votes won by non-Parliamentary parties. Election: 50% proportional by votes, 50% equal among Parliamentary parties.Parties participating in elections that have recieved a minimum of 0.5% of votes in previous elections are entitled to public funding based on a flat rate multiplied by number of votes recieved.
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31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)?
  • CodeNo
  • Comment
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32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentParties have the right to use the public mass media free of charge in electoral campaigns and referenda.?
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33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?
  • CodeShare of seats | Other
  • Comment

    Parties that received 20% of ?seats in?the last parliamentary elections have?airtime of not less than?30 minutes daily on Public TV and on Public Radio; other?parliamentary parties not less than 15 minutes daily.

    Each party not represented in the Assembly that participates is allocated 10?minutes of daily airtime on Public Television and 10 minutes of daily airtime on Public Radio.

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34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentThe same legislation applies to political parties and candidates.
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35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding?
  • CodeYes
  • Comment
    The parliamentary parties are furnished with buildings for their central headquarters and local?offices (alternatively the State pays the rent).

  • Source
36. Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties tied to gender equality among candidates?
  • CodeYes
  • Comment30% of candidates must be women in all elections. Failure to comply is punishable by fines, which are taken from each party's respective public funding.
  • Source
37. Are there provisions for other financial advantages to encourage gender equality in political parties?
  • CodeNo
  • Comment
  • 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
  • CommentParties (including their candidates) cannot spend more than ten times the maximum public funding paid out.
  • Source
40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit?
  • Code 10 times the highest amount that an electoral subject has received from public funds.
  • Comment
  • Source
41. Are there limits on the amount a candidate can spend?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentTotal expense made by a political party, including their candidates, for an?electoral campaign must not exceed 10 times the highest amount that an electoral subject?has received from public funds. The total expense that a candidate proposed by voters can make may not be more than 50% of the highest amount an electoral subject has obtained from public funds
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42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit?
  • Code Not more than 50% of the highest amount obtained from public funds. Candidate spending also included in party spending limit (10 times the highest amount received from public funds).
  • 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
  • CommentParties are required to submit financial reports to the Central Elections Commission on annual basis.
  • Source
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentParties must submit reports of their finances to the Central Election Commission.
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49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentCandidates are subject to the same legislation as political parties in this regard.
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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 Central Elections Commission are required to publish the audit reports of electoral subjects (both parties and candidates) in its official website not later than 30 days from the date the report has been submitted.
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52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors?
  • CodeSometimes
  • CommentThe special register includes?all private funds received, indicating the amount of?contributions made by each physical or legal person and further information allowing the clear?identification of the donors. Note however that only the identity of persons who have donated more than 100,000 ALL is made public.
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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
  • CommentCentral Electoral Commission.
  • Source
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations?
  • CodeEMB | Auditing agency | Other
  • CommentCentral Electoral Comission, High State Control (State Supreme Audit) and tax authorities. 
  • Source
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 | Loss of public funding
  • CommentFines and loss of public funding for up to 5 years,
  • 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.