40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit?

Law no.44 Parliamentary Elections 2017

Article 58: Campaign spending

In the present law, the term “campaign

spending” shall indicate all expenses paid by

the list or candidate and all expenses paid for

the account or benefit of either one of them,

with their express or tacit consent, by natural or

legal persons, political parties, associations or

any other bodies, provided that such expenses

directly serve the electoral campaign, voting

process or legitimate communication between

the candidate list or candidate and the voter,

including:

Securing the rent and other expenses of

campaign offices; organizing campaignrelated

rallies, events, public meetings and

banquets; expenses related to equipment used

in the campaign; preparing, publishing and

disseminating media and advertising material

through books, brochures, bulletins, leaflets,

printed letters, or through post and electronic

mail; preparing, disseminating and posting

pictures, stickers, posters and billboards;

paying compensation or allowances in cash or

in kind to the campaign staff and candidate

agents; campaign staff and voter transport and

relocation expenses; travel expenses of nonresident

voters; expenses related to electoral

advertising and opinion polls; any other

expenses paid for the purposes of the campaign

to any radio or television broadcasting station,

newspaper, magazine or any other means of

publication, including electronic means.

"Article 61 states the formulae for calculating the spending limits of candidates and lists:  
• A candidate’s limit is the fixed sum of 150 million Lebanese Pounds plus 5,000 Lebanese Pounds for each voter registered in the voters lists in the major constituency; • The spending limit for a list is a fixed sum of 150 million Lebanese Pounds.61  
However, Article 61 also provides that these spending limits may be “reconsidered at the opening of the campaign period in the light of economic conditions” by a decree issued by the Council of Ministers at the suggestion of the minister and following consultations with the SCE"