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Political Finance Database

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Bahrain

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?

2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates?

3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties?

4. Is there a ban on corporate donations to candidates?

5. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to political parties?

6. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to candidates?

7. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to political parties?

Code

Yes

8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates?

Code

No data

9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties?

Code

No data

10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates?

Code

Yes

Source

It is prohibited for the candidate to receive any money for election propaganda from any party.(Article 25) by Decree-Law No. 15 of 2002 on the House of Representatives and Representatives.

11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties?

Code

No data

12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates?

Code

Yes

Source

It is prohibited for the candidate to receive any money for election propaganda from any party.(Article 25) by Decree-Law No. 15 of 2002 on the House of Representatives and Representatives.

13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate?

Code

Yes

Source

Ministerial Decree No. 77 of 2006 on the organization of electoral propaganda for the elections of the members of the Council of Representatives and the municipal councils in Article (3):
It is prohibited for each candidate to carry out electoral propaganda, including organizing, holding and organizing meetings
Posters and advertisements inside or outside or on the following places and facilities:
Mosques, mansions and other places of worship.
B) The ministries, departments and affiliated agencies, government buildings and institutions
Public bodies and the like, and public places for public services.
C) Universities, scientific institutes and public and private schools.
(D) Monuments, monuments, archaeological buildings and surrounding fences.
(E) poles of electricity, lighting, telephone, traffic lights and traffic signs;
F) The headquarters of the supervisory committees and the farming and sorting committees.
(G) Bridges, tunnels, dowries, street islands, intersections, pavements and trees
(H) Means of transport and public vehicles.

14. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period?

Code

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

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 data

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 data

21. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to political parties?

Code

No data

22. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to candidates?

Code

No data

23. Is there a ban on political parties engaging in commercial activities?

Code

No data

24. Is there a ban on political parties taking loans in relation to election campaigns?

Code

No data

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 data

Question	Value
28. Are there provisions for direct public funding to political parties?	Code Yes, regularly Source P 48, '( Article 14) of the Law defines the financial resources of each association as follows:- Members? fees.- Unconditional local contributions.- Operational support by the government.' Page 50 of same source shows amounts of 'government financing' distributed to different political parties] (Source: AbdulHadi Al-Khawaja & Abbas Mirza Al-Moorshd (2008) A study of political organizations and associations in Bahrain, The study project on parties in Arab countries)
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding?	Code No data
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding?	Code No data
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)?	Code No data
32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?	Code No data
33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?	Code No data
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates?	Code Yes Source All media shall be given equal rights in the media of all candidates..(Article 26) by Decree-Law No. 15 of 2002 on the House of Representatives and Representatives.
35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding?	Code No data Source It is prohibited for any candidate to present gifts, donations, cash or in kind donations or other benefits, or promises to provide them to a natural or legal person, whether directly or through third parties. No person may request such gifts or donations. Or aid or promise from any candidate. The candidate is also prohibited from receiving any funds for election campaigns from any party. .(Article 25) by Decree-Law No. 15 of 2002 on the House of Representatives and Representatives.
36. Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties tied to gender equality among candidates?	Code No Comment Nothing mentioned on the contribution system and the polrtical party law or the election law Source Nothing mentioned on the contribution system and the polrtical party law or the election law
37. Are there provisions for other financial advantages to encourage gender equality in political parties?	Code No data

Question	Value
38. Is there a ban on vote buying?	Code Yes Source It is prohibited for any candidate to present gifts, donations, cash or in kind donations or other benefits, or promises to provide them to a natural or legal person, whether directly or through third parties. No person may request such gifts or donations. Or aid or promise from any candidate. The candidate is also prohibited from receiving any funds for election campaigns from any party. .(Article 25) by Decree-Law No. 15 of 2002 on the House of Representatives and Representatives.
39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend?	Code No data
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 data
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit?	Code No data
43. Are there limits on the amount that third parties can spend on election campaign activities?	Code No data
44. Are there limits on traditional media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns?	Code No data
45. Are there limits on online media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns?	Code No data
46. Do any other restrictions on online media advertisement (beyond limits) exist?	Code No data

Question	Value
47. Do political parties have to report regularly on their finances?	Code Yes Comment The association should inform the Minister of Justice with copy of it's annual budget in the first quarter of the year, it?s finincal revenue, the donors and the financial status of the association (Source: Political Association Law) Source The association should inform the Minister of Justice with copy of it's annual budget in the first quarter of the year, it?s finincal revenue, the donors and the financial status of the association (Source: Political Association Law)
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 Comment The election law didn't address this as a requirement. Source The election law didn't address this as a requirement.
50. Do third parties have to report on election campaign finances?	Code No data
51. Is information in reports from political parties and/or candidates to be made public?	Code No
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors?	Code Yes Comment The association should show a statement of financial resources, sources of funding and financial situation (Source: Political Association Law) Source The association should show a statement of financial resources, sources of funding and financial situation (Source: Political Association Law)
53. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized income?	Code No data
54. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized spending?	Code No data
55. Which institution(s) receives financial reports from political parties and/or candidates?	Code Ministry Auditing agency Source Ministry of Justice
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations?	Code Other Comment Office of financial provisions/Financial Control Bureau Source Office of financial provisions/Financial Control Bureau,The political associations, which are in the ranks of the political parties, submit their financial reports to the general conferences, to the Ministry of Justice (the department responsible for them) and to the Financial Control Bureau, which audits and monitors the accounts of these associations on an annual basis as well as an independent auditing company.
57. What power is granted to the institution(s) responsible for examining reports and/or investigating violations?	Code No data
58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions?	Code Fines Prison Source (Imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years and a fine not exceeding three thousand dinars, or one of these two penalties) in Article (24) of the decree Law No. (15) of 2002 concerning the Consultative Council and House of Representatives Article (13) by Ministerial Decision No. 77 of 2006 on the regulation of electoral propaganda for the elections of the members of the Council of Representatives and the municipal councils: Without prejudice to any more severe penalty punishable by any other law: 1. Any candidate for membership in the Chamber of Deputies shall be subject to electoral propaganda contrary to the conditions and conditions Provided for in this decision shall be subject to the penalty stipulated in Article (31) of the decree Law No. (15) of 2002 concerning the Consultative Council and House of Representatives. 2. Any candidate for municipal councils shall be subjected to electoral propaganda contrary to the conditions And the conditions stipulated in this decision for the penalty provided for in Article 16 Of Decree-Law No. (14) of 1973 concerning the organization of advertisements. 3. The penalty provided for in Article (17) of Decree-Law No. (14) for the year shall be punished 1973 On the organization of advertisements, anyone who breaks, breaks, removes, rips or maims any advertisement Photograph, poster or any other means of election campaigning During the election period.

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