Switzerland

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

    Donations from Swiss citizens living abroad are not considered as foreign donations.

  • Source

    Article 76h, Federal Law on Political Rights, 1976 as amended in 2021

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

    Donations from Swiss citizens living abroad are not considered as foreign donations

  • Source

    Article 76h, Federal Law on Political Rights, 1976 as amended in 2021

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
  • Comment
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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
  • Source
7. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to political parties?
  • CodeYes
  • Comment
  • Source

    Article 76h, Federal Law on Political Rights, 1976 as amended in 2021.

8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates?
  • CodeYes
  • Comment
  • Source

    Article 76h, Federal Law on Political Rights, 1976 as amended in 2021.

9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties?
  • CodeNo
  • Comment
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10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates?
  • CodeNo
  • Comment
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11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties?
  • CodeNo
  • Comment
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12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates?
  • CodeNo
  • Comment
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13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate?
  • CodeNo
  • 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
  • Comment
  • Source
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
  • Comment
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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
  • Comment
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20. Is there a limit on the amount a candidate can contribute to their own election campaign?
  • CodeNo
  • Comment
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21. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to political parties?
  • CodeNo
  • Comment
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22. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to candidates?
  • CodeNo
  • Comment
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23. Is there a ban on political parties engaging in commercial activities?
  • CodeNo
  • Comment
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24. Is there a ban on political parties taking loans in relation to election campaigns?
  • CodeNo
  • Comment
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25. Is there a ban on candidates taking loans in relation to election campaigns?
  • CodeNo
  • Comment
  • Source
26. Is there a ban on donors to political parties/candidates participating in public tender/procurement processes?
  • CodeNo
  • Comment
  • Source
27. Are there provisions requiring donations to go through the banking system?
  • CodeNo
  • Comment
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Question Value
28. Are there provisions for direct public funding to political parties?
  • CodeNo public funding available
  • Comment

    However, parliamentary groups do receive some public funding.
    Cf: Loi fédérale 171.21 sur les moyens alloués aux membres de l’Assemblée fédérale et sur les contributions allouées aux groupes

    A few cantons, such as Geneva and Fribourg, grant public subsidies to parties and/or partial reimbursement of campaign expenditures.
    OSCE/ODIHR (2019) Swiss Confederation, Federal Assembly Elections, 20 October 2019. OSCE/ODIHR Needs Assessment Mission Report. OSCE/ODIHR, Warsaw.

  • Source

    Cf: Loi fédérale 171.21 sur les moyens alloués aux membres de l’Assemblée fédérale et sur les contributions allouées aux groupes; OSCE/ODIHR (2019) Swiss Confederation, Federal Assembly Elections, 20 October 2019. OSCE/ODIHR Needs Assessment Mission Report. OSCE/ODIHR, Warsaw.

29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding?
  • CodeNot applicable
  • Comment
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30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding?
  • CodeNot applicable
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31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)?
  • CodeNot applicable
  • Comment
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32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?
  • CodeNo data
  • Comment
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33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?
  • CodeNo data
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34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates?
  • CodeNo data
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35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding?
  • CodeYes
  • Comment

    Tax deductions for donations to political parties.

  • Source

    GRECO, Third Evaluation Round, Evaluation Report  on Switzerland Transparency of Political Party Funding  (Theme II), 2011. GRECO, Strasbourg

36. Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties tied to gender equality among candidates?
  • CodeNot applicable
  • Comment
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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

    Article 281, Criminal Code, 1937: Any person who offers, promises, or gives a voter or arranges for a voter to be given a gift or other advantage in return for voting in a particular way, or in return for signing or refusing to sign a request for a referendum or an initiative, any person who offers, promises, or gives a voter or arranges for a voter to be given a gift or other advantage in return for not participating in an election or vote, and any person who as a voter secures the promise of or arranges for himself to be given such an advantage, is liable to a custodial sentence not exceeding three years or to a monetary penalty.

39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend?
  • CodeNo
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40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit?
  • CodeNot applicable
  • Comment
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41. Are there limits on the amount a candidate can spend?
  • CodeNo
  • Comment
  • Source
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit?
  • CodeNot applicable
  • Comment
  • Source
43. Are there limits on the amount that third parties can spend on election campaign activities?
  • CodeNo
  • Comment
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44. Are there limits on traditional media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns?
  • CodeYes, for political parties | Yes, for candidates
  • Comment

    Ban on political advertising in broadcast media but not in print and digital media.

  • Source

    Article 10(1)d, Federal Act on Radio and Television 784.40, 2006

45. Are there limits on online media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns?
  • CodeNo
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46. Do any other restrictions on online media advertisement (beyond limits) exist?
  • CodeNo
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Question Value
47. Do political parties have to report regularly on their finances?
  • CodeYes
  • Comment

    Parliamentary groups must declare to the competent authority all sources of financing and notably all annual monetary and in-kind donations above CHF 15,000 per donor.

    Deputies at the Federal Assembly who do not belong to a parliamentary group must declare to the competent institution all annual monetary and in-kind donations above CHF 15,000 per donor .

  • Source

    Article 76b, Federal Law on Political Rights, 1976 as amended in 2021
    "1 Les partis politiques représentés à l’Assemblée fédérale doivent déclarer leur financement.
    2 Ils s’acquittent de ce devoir en fournissant les indications suivantes à l’autorité compétente:
    a. leurs recettes;
    b. tout avantage économique leur ayant été octroyé volontairement (libéralité monétaire et non-monétaire) dont la valeur dépasse 15 000 francs par auteur de la libéralité et par année;
    c. les contributions des élus et autres titulaires de mandats."

48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances?
  • CodeYes
  • Comment

    If more than CHF 50,000 are spent on voting campaigns and electoral campaigns, the budgeted revenues, the final statement of revenues and all donations (monetary and in-kind) exceeding CHF 15,000 per author and in the 12 months prior to the vote or election day must be declared. The budgeted income must be provided 45 days before the vote or  election day and the final statement on income and donations 60 days after the vote or the election. Not applicable to the Council of States election.

  • Source

    Article 76c, Federal Law on Political Rights, 1976 as amended in 2021

49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances?
  • CodeYes
  • Comment

    If more than CHF 50,000 are spent on voting campaigns and electoral campaigns, the budgeted revenues, the final statement of revenues and all donations (monetary and in-kind) exceeding CHF 15,000 per author and in the 12 months prior to the vote or election day must be declared. The budgeted income must be provided 45 days before the vote or  election day and the final statement on income and donations 60 days after the vote or the election. Not applicable to the Council of States election.

  • Source

    Article 76c, Federal Law on Political Rights, 1976 as amended in 2021

50. Do third parties have to report on election campaign finances?
  • CodeYes
  • Comment

    Natural or legal persons campaigning for the election of a member of the Council of States and who spent more than CHF 50,000 for this purpose must provide a final statement on income and declare all the monetary and in-kind donations exceeding CHF 15,000.

  • Source

    Article 76c(3), Federal Law on Political Rights, 1976 as amended in 2021

51. Is information in reports from political parties and/or candidates to be made public?
  • CodeYes
  • Comment

    Campaign finance reports are published within 15 days fro their receipt by the competent authority and donations above the publication threshold, i.e. CHF 15,000 are published as they are declared to the competent body.

  • Source

    Article 76f, Federal Law on Political Rights, 1976 as amended in 2021

52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors?
  • CodeYes
  • Comment

    For monetary and in-kind donations above CHF 15,000, the name and residence of the natural person or the name and registered office of the legal person must be reported.

  • Source

    Article 76d(4), Federal Law on Political Rights, 1976 as amended in 2021

53. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized income?
  • CodeNo
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54. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized spending?
  • CodeNo
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55. Which institution(s) receives financial reports from political parties and/or candidates?
  • CodeNo Institution specified
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56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations?
  • CodeNo institution specified
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57. What power is granted to the institution(s) responsible for examining reports and/or investigating violations?
  • CodeRefer for investigation | Request additional information from potential violator
  • Comment
  • Source

    Article 76e, Federal Law on Political Rights, 1976 as amended in 2021

58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions?
  • CodeFines
  • Comment

    Violation of political finance rules can result in a fine of up to CHF 40,000

  • Source

    Article 76j, Federal Law on Political Rights, 1976 as amended in 2021

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