36. Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties tied to gender equality among candidates?
El Salvador
Source 1: 2025 Constitutional Reform.
Source 2: Article 64, paragraph 1, Political Parties Act.
Artículo 64 inciso 1°. – Las contribuciones privadas solo pueden acreditarse a favor de los partidos políticos.
Article 64, paragraph 1. – Private contributions may only be credited to political parties.
Ley de Partidos: https://www.asamblea.gob.sv/sites/default/files/documents/decretos/2E597B83-D1C9-4C91-A9C9-6EC8A44FBA0F.pdf
Constitución: https://www.asamblea.gob.sv/sites/default/files/2025-08/19830038%20CONSTITUCIO%CC%81N%20DE%20LA%20REPU%CC%81BLICA.pdf
Eliminación financiamiento público: https://www.asamblea.gob.sv/sites/default/files/documents/acuerdos/6BCF5268-7865-485F-BA81-3D8976BF0E5F.pdf
In February and March 2025, the Legislative Assembly eliminated public funding for parties through a reform of the Constitution and the Political Parties Act.
In addition, the law establishes that contributions can only be credited to political parties. Therefore, the law does not regulate the fundraising activities of candidates.
El Salvador had a mixed financing system until February 2025.
Furthermore, by not regulating the financing activities of party candidates, the law creates a loophole that is exploited in practice by candidates to raise funds without being accountable to their parties or the electoral authority for the origin and destination of the funds received.
