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Political Finance Database

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Egypt

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
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 Comment All donations from legal persons are banned.
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 No data
8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates?	Code Yes Comment Candidates must notify the High Elections Commission on the names of the persons she/he received from, as well as the amount of the donation.
9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties?	Code Yes Comment All corporate donations are banned Source Art 11, 'The resources of the party shall be formed of its members? subscriptions, the financial support it receives from the State, and the donations of Egyptian natural persons, as well as the proceeds of investing its funds in the non-commercial aspects defined in its statute...' (Source: Law 40/1977, Political Party Law, 1977)
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates?	Code Yes Comment All donations from corporations to candidates are banned. Source Art 26, 'Each candidate may receive contribution in cash or in-kind from Egyptian natural persons or from the party nominating him, provided that contributions from any natural person shall not exceed 2 % of the maximum expenditure allowed on the election campaign.' (Source: Law 174/2005, Regulating the Presidential Elections, 2005)
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties?	Code Yes Comment All corporate donations are banned Source Art 11, 'The resources of the party shall be formed of its members? subscriptions, the financial support it receives from the State, and the donations of Egyptian natural persons, as well as the proceeds of investing its funds in the non-commercial aspects defined in its statute...' (Source: Law 40/1977, Political Party Law, 1977)
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates?	Code Yes Comment All donations from corporations to candidates are banned. Source Art 26, 'Each candidate may receive contribution in cash or in-kind from Egyptian natural persons or from the party nominating him, provided that contributions from any natural person shall not exceed 2 % of the maximum expenditure allowed on the election campaign.' (Source: Law 174/2005, Regulating the Presidential Elections, 2005)
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate?	Code Yes Comment Public facilities or buildings must not be used for campaigning
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 Yes, for both natural and legal persons Comment For presidential but not for parliamentary elections Source 'Each candidate can receive donations, cash of any kind from Egyptian citizens and from the party that nominated him under the condition that it does not exceed 2% of the maximum amount in the election campaign.'Article 26 (Source: Law 174/2005, Regulating the Presidential Elections, 2005)
19. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate, what is the limit?	Code Limit is 2% of the allowed total spending
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 No public funding available Comment Public funding was removed through legal changes in March 2011.
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding?	Code Not applicable
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding?	Code Not applicable Comment Funding for ten years after registration provided equally, remaining funds provided proportionally to seats won in preceding election
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)?	Code Not applicable
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 Not applicable
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates?	Code Yes Comment Candidates have the right to use state-owned media.
35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding?	Code Yes Comment Political parties are generally tax exempt (though donations to parties are no tax deductible).
36. Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties tied to gender equality among candidates?	Code Not applicable
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
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 Yes Comment For Presidential candidates the ceiling is 20 million Egyptian pounds in the first round and 5 million Egyptian pounds in the second round. For individual candidates the ceiling is 500, 000 Egyptian pounds for the first round and 200, 000 for the second round. For list candidates, the total spending depends on how many seats are allocated.
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit?	Code Depending on candidate, see comment. Comment For Presidential candidates the ceiling is 20 million Egyptian pounds in the first round and 5 million Egyptian pounds in the second round. For individual candidates the ceiling is 500, 000 Egyptian pounds for the first round and 200, 000 for the second round. For list candidates, the total spending depends on how many seats are allocated.
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 Annual reports required on donations only.
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances?	Code Yes Comment Parties have to file reports in relation to presidential elections, though only if they have received donations above LE 1,000.
49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances?	Code Yes Comment For presidential election
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
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors?	Code Sometimes Comment For presidential candidates
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 Special agency for political finance Comment Higher Elections Committee (HEC)
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations?	Code Court Auditing agency Comment Central Audit Agency and public prosecution
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 elected office Comment Sanctions vary depending on if the breaches are made by political parties, candidates or presidential candidates.

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