MEDIA ANOUNCE

June 28,2011

Contact details: 
Ana Toklikishvili; 
595 221 999;
Anuka@osgf.ge

Political Party Funding and Expenses

 Launch of the research findings and discussion on  Ruling party's electoral proposal

Date:            Tuesday, 28 June, 12:00- 2:30 pm   

Place:           Courtyard Marriott , Conference Hall №1

On June 28, the Courtyard Marriott Hotel will host the presentation of the research findings on the financing of political parties over 2007-2010 years. The research was conducted by Transparency International Georgia with the support of Open Society Georgia Foundation.

 The research report covers issues related to the transparency of funding of political parties and their accountability. The report analyses the annual incomes and estimates of those political parties that overcame the election barrier and obtained mandates as a result of the May 30, 2010 elections.

 The research is based on 2007-2010 data and provides details about:

 The research findings have made it clear that legislation on funding political parties should be improved in Georgia. There is no agency to check for compliance with law with respect to financing political parties; the competent authority to check financial declarations published by parties on an annual basis is not defined; a unified financial reporting form for the parties is not available; parties are not required to present primary financial documents upon reporting; no measures are applied against inaccurate financial reports submitted by the parties...

The distribution of finances between political parties and financing sources raise interest.  Most opposition parties, just with few exceptions, are financed by individuals, while the ruling party and its candidates as a rule are funded by business companies. 

The final part of the report provides recommendations on how problems regarding the financing of political parties may be resolved that will help improve the election environment on the whole.

The report presentation will be followed by the discussion on the new initiative of the ruling party which offers allocation of GEL 1 million for those parties which will clear 5% electoral threshold in next parliamentary elections and which will become part of the agreement on electoral system reform.