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Political Finance Database

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Panama

2016

2018

2021

2023

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?	Code Yes Comment Ban does not apply to donations from international party organizations or foreign foundations, as long as they are not for campaign expenses purposes.
2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates?	Code Yes
3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties?	Code No Comment No bans on corporate donations to political parties in law.
4. Is there a ban on corporate donations to candidates?	Code No
5. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to political parties?	Code No
6. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to candidates?	Code No
7. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to political parties?	Code Yes Comment Ban does not apply to anonymous donations in public rallies that are according to regulations established by the EMB.
8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates?	Code Yes Comment Candidates may raise anonymous donations in public rallies, but according to regulations established by the EMB.
9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties?	Code No Comment Ban applies to donations from corporations where the State is partial owner. Source Art. 190.4 “Quedan prohibidas las donaciones o aportes a partidos políticos y a candidatos provenientes de empresas donde el Estado sea accionista”. (Source: (Código Electoral de Panamá, 2006 (Electoral Law)))
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates?	Code No Source Art. 190.4 “Quedan prohibidas las donaciones o aportes a partidos políticos y a candidatos provenientes de empresas donde el Estado sea accionista”. (Source: (Código Electoral de Panamá, 2006 (Electoral Law)))
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties?	Code Yes Comment Ban applies to donations from corporations where the State is partial owner. Source Art. 190.4 “Quedan prohibidas las donaciones o aportes a partidos políticos y a candidatos provenientes de empresas donde el Estado sea accionista”. (Source: (Código Electoral de Panamá, 2006 (Electoral Law)))
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates?	Code Yes Comment Ban applies to donations from corporations with partial government ownership. Source Art. 190.4 “Quedan prohibidas las donaciones o aportes a partidos políticos y a candidatos provenientes de empresas donde el Estado sea accionista”. (Source: (Código Electoral de Panamá, 2006 (Electoral Law)))
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate?	Code Yes Comment Public servants are not allowed to engage in partisanship activities while on duty, or to make use of their authority of influence to favor any candidate or political party. EMB officers are banned from any type of political activity, except casting their vote. It is prohibited to make use of State resource in favor or against any candidate or political party.
14. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period?	Code No
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 No
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
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?
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?	Code Yes, both regularly and in relation to campaigns Comment Public funding is approved every five years and distributed throughout that period to support both, ordinary activities and campaign expenses.
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding?	Code Representation in elected body Share of votes in next election Participation in election Registration as a political party Comment Registered political parties shall simply formally inform the EMB, no later than 30 days after the beginning of the electoral period, their will to participate in the upcoming elections and to benefit from public funding.
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding?	Code Equal Proportional to votes received Comment All funding devoted to campaign expenses (40% of the total) is allocated on an equal basis among all political parties. ? One third of the remaining public funding (all devoted to ordinary activities and distributed on a yearly basis), is also distributed on an equal basis, and two thirds according to their share of votes in the previous general elections.
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)?	Code Campaign spending Ongoing party activities civic and political education and women training Comment 10% of the overall public funding is devoted to the proceedings for nomination of candidates. ? 30% is devoted to electoral advertising expenses. ? The remaining 60% goes to ongoing party activities, but at least 25% of this should be invested in civic-and political education activities, and at least 10% of the latter solely to women training.
32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?	Code Yes
33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?	Code Equal
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates?	Code No
35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding?	Code Yes Comment Parties are exempted of taxes for the importation of propaganda materials; hardware and office equipment. Parties are entitled to free postage, and use of telegraphic facilities and fundraising activities conducted by political parties are tax exempted. Contributions to political parties or candidates are tax exempted for up to 10,000 balboas [I$ 16,000] annually.
36. Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties tied to gender equality among candidates?	Code No
37. Are there provisions for other financial advantages to encourage gender equality in political parties?	Code Yes, funds earmarked for gender activities Comment At least 10% of the public funding devoted to civic and political education activities shall be channeled to solely support women training activities

Question	Value
38. Is there a ban on vote buying?	Code Yes Comment Vote buying carries imprisonment from six months to three years and a ban on exerting any public duty for up to three years.
39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend?	Code No
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
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit?	Code Not applicable
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?	Code Yes Comment Report of contributions and expenditures.
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances?	Code Yes Comment Report of contributions received to cover ordinary and campaign expenses.
49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances?	Code Yes Comment Candidates are obliged by law to register and keep a record of all private contributions received to cover their campaign expenses. They mst also submit financial reports.
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?	Code No Comment By law, information provided by parties and candidates about sources of private funding has to be handled confidentially by the EMB, and solely used to determine if there have been breaches to criminal laws.
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors?	Code Yes
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?	Code EMB Comment Parties and candidates are only obliged by law to keep records of the private contributions that they receive, and also to submit financial reports on a regular basis.
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations?	Code EMB
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?

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