Political Finance Database

Portugal

Portugal

2016
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
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
Yes
4. Is there a ban on corporate donations to candidates?
Code
Yes
5. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to political parties?
Code
Yes
Comment
All donations from legal entities banned
6. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to candidates?
Code
Yes
Comment
All donations from legal entities banned.
7. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to political parties?
Code
Yes
8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates?
Code
Yes
9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties?
Code
Yes
Source
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates?
Code
Yes
Comment

All corporate donations are banned.

Source
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties?
Code
Yes
Source
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates?
Code
Yes
Comment

All corporate donations are banned.

Source
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate?
Code
No data
14. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period?
Code
Yes, for natural persons
Source

P 9f, 'Furthermore, donations by natural persons to political parties can only be provided by identified natural persons and cannot go beyond, annually, 25 times the national monthly minimum wage per donor (25xEUR 426=EUR 10,650 )' (Source: GRECO (2010) Evaluation Report on Portugal Transparency of Party Funding (Theme II))

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
Annual limit is 25 monthly minimum wages
16. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election?
Code
Yes, for natural persons
Source
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
Limit is 60 monthly minimum wages
18. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate?
Code
Yes, for both natural and legal persons
Comment

Direct donations to candidates are prohibited.

Source
19. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate, what is the limit?
Code
Not applicable
Comment
.
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
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding?
Code
  • Representation in elected body
  • Share of votes in previous election
  • Number of candidates nominated
  • Participation in election
Comment
Ongoing assistance: party must have gained at least 50,000 votes in preceding election or gained representation.?

Campaign assistance: Party must either run for European Parliament, or run for a majority of Parliamentary seats and gained representation in regional assembly (for local elections, gain representation or 2% of the vote)
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding?
Code
Equal Proportional to votes received
Comment
Ongoing assistance: Proportional to votes received. Campaign assistance: 20% equal, 80% proportional to votes won (25% and 75% for local government elections).
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)?
Code
No
Comment
However, the amount of public campaign assistance cannot exceed the amount spent on the campaign.
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
  • Share of seats
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates?
35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding?
Code
Yes
Comment
Political parties are not subject to income tax.
36. Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties tied to gender equality among candidates?
Code
Yes
Comment
Parties that do not have a balance between the genders among its candidates can lose between 25% and 80% of its public funding.
37. Are there provisions for other financial advantages to encourage gender equality in political parties?
Code
No
Comment
.
Question Value
38. Is there a ban on vote buying?
Code
Yes
39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend?
Code
Yes
Comment
Limits for election campaigns only
40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit?
Code
From 150 to 12,500 minimum monthly wages depending on election type.
41. Are there limits on the amount a candidate can spend?
Code
Yes
Comment
For Presidential and local government candidates.
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit?
Code
25 million escudos per Presidential candidate (increased by 50% for run-off elections)
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
Annually
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances?
Code
Yes
49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances?
Code
Yes
Comment
Presidential and local government candidates.
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
Yes
Comment
Both annual and electoral accounts are made public online within five to eight days after submission.
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
  • Court
Comment
Constitutional Court (EMB in relation to referenda)
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations?
Code
  • EMB
  • Court
  • Special agency for political finance
Comment

Political Financing Supervisory Body (Entidade das Contas e Financiamentos Pol?ticos) and Constitutional Court (EMB in relation to referenda).

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?
Code
  • Fines
  • Prison
  • Forfeiture
  • Loss of public funding
Comment
Non-submission or submission of?inaccurate financial reports carry a fine.??Raising of illegal funds can lead to fines or imprisonment and the confiscation of illegally raised funds. State subsidies could be withhold.
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