Parliament okays caps for financing political parties

The parliament on Thursday approved a coalition-sponsored amendment to the Election Campaign Act, adjusting financial limits for political parties, election campaign funding and fines. This amendment concerns political parties, and the later discussed it in Parliament, Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini told journalists in a reaction to the amendment approved by MPs in a fast-track procedure on Thursday. "The Government complied with a demand from Parliament asking it for an opportunity to debate its own parliamentary proposal in an expedited mode," stated Pellegrini. Asked whether it is okay to submit and approve such a low in a fast-track regime eight months before the general election, the prime minister said it was sufficient time. Meanwhile, independent MP Miroslav Beblavy, and leader of the extra-parliamentary party Together party said that changing rules for political parties within 24 hours and eight months ahead of the election is unfair and unacceptable. "It's a manifestation of the fear of [Smer-SD leader Robert] Fico, [Slovak National Party leader Andrej], Danko and [Most-Hid leader Bela] Bugar that their political careers are ending. However, they won't manage to stop the change and arrival of new politics in this way," he said. Political parties will be able to receive €3.5 million during one electoral term in total in the form of gifts, loans and credits with membership fees being included in this sum as well. By introducing this limit the authors of the amendment say they are seeking higher transparency in political party finance. The amendment also scraps the so-called third parties in the election campaign. Fines for campaigning in an unlawful manner and for campaigning during the election moratorium will be increased and the amendment stipulates the maximum sum of an annual membership fee that a political party can receive from one member at €10,000. MPs met on Friday for the last time ahead of the summer holiday break.