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Political Finance Database

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Thailand

2016

2018

2019

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 BLANK
2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates?	Code No
3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties?	Code No
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, above certain threshold Comment Ban on anonymous donations exceeding THB 4999 [I$ 300].
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 Source Art 71, 'No... enterprise of which the State is a major shareholder... shall make a donation to a political party. An enterprise of which the State is a major shareholder under this Section means the enterprise in which the State is a partner or holds the largest number of shares when compared with each and all of the other partners or shareholders, or where the proportion of the controlled partnership stakes or shares is one-third or more of the total partnership stakes or shares of such enterprise.' (Source: Organic Act on Political Parties, B.E 2550, 2007)
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates?	Code No
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties?	Code Yes Source Art 71, 'No... enterprise of which the State is a major shareholder... shall make a donation to a political party. An enterprise of which the State is a major shareholder under this Section means the enterprise in which the State is a partner or holds the largest number of shares when compared with each and all of the other partners or shareholders, or where the proportion of the controlled partnership stakes or shares is one-third or more of the total partnership stakes or shares of such enterprise.' (Source: Organic Act on Political Parties, B.E 2550, 2007)
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates?	Code No
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate?	Code Yes Comment State officials exercising their duties must not favour 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, regularly Comment Annually.
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding?	Code Share of votes in previous election Matching funds available to all parties receiving certain type of small private donations. Comment Parties must have won at least 0.5% of the votes in the preceding election.
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding?	Code Proportional to votes received Number of members Number of party branches and matching funds (5% of donations not exceeding 100 baht, not exceeding 50% of total allocation of public funds). Comment 80% is distributed according to votes received in previous election, 10% according to the number of party branches and 10% in accordance to number of active members. No party can receive more than 50% of the total amount being allocated.
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)?	Code No Comment While the law does specify how the funds may be used, these rules are so general that they cannot be said to amount to ear marking.
32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?	Code Yes Comment blank
33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?	Code Share of seats Comment blank
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 EMB may also provide assistance regarding public utilities and printing of publicity materials Comment EMB may also provide political parties assistance regarding for example postal fees and public utilities. Donations are tax deductible.
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 No

Question	Value
38. Is there a ban on vote buying?	Code Yes Comment blank
39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend?	Code Yes
40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit?	Code Limit determined by EMB after consultation with the political parties
41. Are there limits on the amount a candidate can spend?	Code Yes
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit?	Code Determined by EMB after consultation with the political parties
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 Unless the candidate has been nominated by a political party on a party list (then the party 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 Yes Comment blank
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors?	Code Sometimes Comment Donations over 100,000 baht must be reported to the EMB.
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 The Registrar (EMB Chair)
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?	Code Fines Prison Forfeiture Loss of political rights Comment A court may order the disfranchisement of violators for not more than five years.

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