France

Home / Data Tools / Country View / 86 / France
Share SHARE

Change country

Export
Question Value
1. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to political parties?
  • CodeYes
  • Comment.
  • Source
2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates?
  • CodeYes
  • Comment.
  • Source
3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties?
  • CodeYes
  • Comment.
  • Source
4. Is there a ban on corporate donations to candidates?
  • CodeYes
  • Comment.
  • Source
5. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to political parties?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentAll donations from legal entities banned
  • Source
6. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to candidates?
  • CodeYes
  • Comment
  • Source
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 identity of donor.
  • Source
8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentNo direct ban, but de facto ban through requirement to record or report identity of donor.
  • Source
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
  • CommentIndirectly regulated (see expert input below).
  • Source
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
  • Source

    p.47 'The French authorities now report that [...]Article 15 of the Law of 11 October 2013, which amends Article 11-4 of Law 88-227 by stipulating that the annual ceiling on natural persons' donations to political parties, set at 7 500 euros, shall now apply per donor and no longer per political party. A natural person can therefore no longer donate more than 7 500 euros per year, no matter how many parties benefit therefrom' (Source: GRECO (2013) Third Evaluation Round, Interim Compliance Report on France, Transparency of Party Funding (Theme II))

    Art 11.4, 'Les dons consentis par une personne physique d?ment identifi?e ? une ou plusieurs associations agr??es en qualit? d'association de financement ou ? un ou plusieurs mandataires financiers d'un ou de plusieurs partis politiques ne peuvent annuellement exc?der 7 500 euros.' (Source: Loi n? 88-227 du 11 mars 1988 relative ? la transparence financi?re de la vie politique)

    A modifi? les dispositions suivantes :Modifie Loi n? 88-227 du 11 mars 1988 - art. 11-4 (V) (Source: LOI n? 2013-907 du 11 octobre 2013 relative ? la transparence de la vie publique)
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 Limit is EUR 7,500 [I$ 8,700] per year.
  • Comment.
  • Source
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
  • Comment
  • 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 Limit is EUR 4,600 [I$ 5,200].
  • CommentThe donations made by an identified individual to finance the campaign of one or more candidates in the same election may not exceed 4,600 euros.
  • 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?

Export
Question Value
28. Are there provisions for direct public funding to political parties?
  • CodeYes, both regularly and in relation to campaigns
  • Comment
  • Source
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding?
  • CodeShare of votes in previous election
  • CommentDifferent categories; the minimum criteria is for the party's candidates to win at least 1% of the vote in at least 50 constituencies.
  • Source
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding?
  • CodeProportional to votes received | Proportional to seats received
  • CommentPart of the funding is proportional to votes gained in the preceding Parliamentary election, part in proportion to Parliamentarians declaring each year that they belong to a political party (candidates can receive campaign spending reimbursement)
  • Source
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)?
  • CodeNo
  • Comment.
  • Source
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 | Votes Received | Other
  • Comment.
  • Source
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates?
  • CodeYes
  • Comment.
  • Source
35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding?
  • CodeYes
  • Comment

    Tax deductibility of donations and help for parliamentary groups, and spaces provided for putting up posters.

  • Source
36. Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties tied to gender equality among candidates?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentIf the gender difference among candidates is larger than 2%, the public funding is reduced by 3/4 of this difference.?
  • Source
37. Are there provisions for other financial advantages to encourage gender equality in political parties?
  • CodeNo
  • Comment.
  • Source

Export
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?
  • CodeNo
  • CommentNo general ceiling on expenses for political parties fixed before the elections. Political parties must only respect the ceiling on expenses which is applied in each constituency where they endorse candidates. On the other hand, candidates have to declare the amount of money coming from political parties.
  • Source
40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit?
  • CodeNot applicable
  • CommentParties have to respect the ceiling on expenses which is applied in each constituency where they endorse candidates
  • Source
41. Are there limits on the amount a candidate can spend?
  • CodeYes
  • CommentThe limit depends on the kind of election and the population of each constituency
  • Source
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit?
  • Code The limit depends on the kind of election and the population of each constituency.
  • Comment.
  • Source
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?

Export
Question Value
47. Do political parties have to report regularly on their finances?
  • CodeYes
  • Comment
  • Source
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances?
  • CodeNo
  • Comment
  • Source
49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances?
  • CodeYes
  • Comment
  • Source
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
  • Comment.
  • Source
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors?
  • CodeYes
  • Comment
  • Source
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?
  • CodeSpecial agency for political finance
  • CommentNational Commission for Campaign Accounts and Political
    Funding (CNCCFP)
  • Source
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations?
  • CodeCourt | Special agency for political finance
  • Comment

    The Commission Nationale des Comptes De Campagne et Des Financements Politiques (CNCCFP) refers cases of possible irregularities to the public prosecutor, police or tax authorities for further investigation.

  • 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 | Prison | Loss of public funding | Loss of elected office
  • CommentThe Electoral Code provides for financial, political and criminal sanctions.Financial sanctions: loss of public funding for political parties and loss of reimbursement for candidates;Political sanctions: ineligibility for candidates (who can sometimes be removed from office when they are elected candidates).
  • 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.