Home > 2.5 Election campaign > MOLDOVA - Joint Opinion on the Legal Framework of Governing the Funding of Political Parties and Electoral Campaigns
 
 
 
Download file    
 
 
Paragraph 55
 

This question is highly controversial among the different political parties. Those who defend the current prohibition – inter alia, the governing parties – mainly refer to difficulties in supervising the legality of such revenues from abroad and risks of abuse, e.g. by foreign countries which might have an interest in influencing electoral campaigns. However, such concerns could be met by special measures as recommended in the 2013 Joint Opinion – and above – with respect to donations by citizens of Moldova residing abroad and via the existing ban on foreign funding already set out in Article 26(6)c), f) and g) of the LPP and in Articles 36 and 38(3)a) and g) of the EC. Such measures could, for example, include setting increased transparency standards or prohibiting cash donations in such cases, and requiring additional layers of supervision. The Venice Commission and the OSCE/ODIHR, thus, take the view that an absolute prohibition of contributions by Moldovan citizens to political parties from out-of-country income restricts the rights of both citizens and political parties, including the right to freedom of association, beyond the conditions of necessity and proportionality. It is therefore recommended to permit private contributions, within clearly defined limits, by citizens of Moldova from their revenues obtained outside of the country, subject to adequate requirements of transparency and close supervision.