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2007 Assessment

Jordan: Integrity Indicators Scorecard

Jordan: Integrity Scorecard Report > Sub-Category: Political Financing
Indicators		Score
20	Are there regulations governing political financing?	43
21	Are the regulations governing political financing effective?	17
22	Can citizens access records related to political financing?	8

Indicator and sub-Indicator Details

Are there regulations governing political financing?

20a: In law, there are regulations governing private contributions to political parties.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: [ LINK ]

Peer Review Comments: See [ LINK ]

20b: In law, there are limits on individual donations to candidates and political parties.

Score:

YES

Comments: Article 19 bans parties from receiving funding from non-Jordanians and it requires donations from Jordanians to be published. No Jordanian citizen is allowed to donate more 10,000 Jordanian dinars (nearly $14,000) a year.

References: Political Parties Law #19 of 2007 [ LINK ]

20c: In law, there are limits on corporate donations to candidates and political parties.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: The Political Parties Law # 19 of 2007 [ LINK ]

Peer Review Comments: See [ LINK ]

20d: In law, there are limits on total political party expenditures.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Political parties Law # 19 of 2007 [ LINK ]

Peer Review Comments: See [ LINK ]

20e: In law, there are requirements for disclosure of donations to political candidates and parties.

Score:

YES

$Scoring Criteria :: YES: A YES score is earned if there are any requirements mandating the disclosure of financial contributions to political parties or candidates. NO: A NO score is earned if there are no requirements mandating the disclosure of contributions to political parties or candidates, existing regulations do not require a donor\'s name or amount given, or the regulations allow for anonymous donations.$

Comments:

References: Political parties Law # 19 of 2007 [ LINK ]

Peer Review Comments: See [ LINK ]

20f: In law, there are requirements for the independent auditing of the finances of political parties and candidates.

Score:

YES

Comments: Financial resources are subject to the Audit Bureau procedures. For candidates, the election law does not require candidates to disclose their financial sources. However, the Audit Bureau can only start an investigation when the government asks for it.

References: Political Parties Law # 19 of 2007 considers political parties finances "public finances."

20g: In law, there is an agency or entity that monitors the political financing process.

Score:

YES

Comments: Financial resources are subject to the Audit Bureau's procedures only when the government asks the Audit Bureau to take action.

References: Political Parties Law # 19 of 2007 considers political parties finances "public finances."

Are the regulations governing political financing effective?

21a: In practice, the limits on individual donations to candidates and political parties are effective in regulating an individual's ability to financially support a candidate or political party.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Dr. Omar Aljazy, managing partner at Aljazy law firm, 12 October, 2007 Interview with Mr. Jihad Mhiesen, Director of Al Mashreq Al Jadid Cenetr for Research/ Amman - Jordan

Peer Review Comments: There are some exceptions and loopholes that render the set limits ineffective.

21b: In practice, the limits on corporate donations to candidates and political parties are effective in regulating a company's ability to financially support a candidate or political party.

Score:

100

Comments: There are many ways in which companies and the individuals from these companies can donate and support a party or a candidate beyond the limits of the law.

References: Dr. Omar Aljazy, managing partner at Aljazy law firm, 12 October, 2007

21c: In practice, the limits on total party expenditures are effective in regulating a political party's ability to fund campaigns or politically-related activities.

Score:

100

Comments: In the recent election cycle of November 2007, some candidates spent millions on campaigns. There was no limit to what they could spend.

References: Dr. Omar Aljazy, managing partner at Aljazy law firm, 12 October, 2007

Peer Review Comments: Estimates show that some parties spent more than 100 million dinars (US$141 million), which makes this election cycle the most expensive in the country's history.

21d: In practice, when necessary, an agency or entity monitoring political financing independently initiates investigations.

Score:

100

Comments: The government can ask the Audit Bureau to initiate investigations and to audit organizations, whether political or otherwise. Then it is the duty of the Audit Bureau to act accordingly.

References: Interview with HE Mustafa Barari, president of the Audit Bureau

Phone interview with Dr. Ibrahim Aljazy, a professor of human rights at the University of Jordan, 12 September 2007

21e: In practice, when necessary, an agency or entity monitoring political financing imposes penalties on offenders.

Score:

100

Comments: The Audit Bureau sends the results of its investigations to the Parliament and the government. If the case requires further action, it is transferred to the courts.

References: Phone interview with Dr. Ibrahim Aljazy, a professor of human rights at the University of Jordan, 12 September 2007

21f: In practice, contributions to political parties and candidates are audited.

Score:

100

Comments: Audits only occur in the case of a company's annual balance sheet. Also, although political parties are subject to auditing by the Audit Bureau upon government request, candidates in municipal and parliamentary elections are not audited. There are many reasons for this difference between parties and candidates. The overwhelming majority of candidates run as independents, and they come up with their own finances.

References: Dr. Omar Aljazy, managing partner at Aljazy law firm, 12 October, 2007

Can citizens access records related to political financing?

22a: In practice, political parties and candidates disclose data relating to financial support and expenditures within a reasonable time period.

Score:

100

Comments: Some parties and individuals will reveal how much they spent on their campaigns voluntarily and for their own reasons.

References: Phone interview with Dr. Ibrahim Aljazy, a professor of human rights at the University of Jordan, 12 September 2007

Peer Review Comments: That is true, nothing can force them to do so. It is a voluntary activity.

22b: In practice, citizens can access the financial records of political parties and candidates within a reasonable time period.

Score:

100

Comments: Some parties and individuals will reveal how much they spent on their campaigns voluntarily and for their own reasons.

References: Dr. Omar Aljazy, managing partner at Aljazy law firm, 12 October, 2007

22c: In practice, citizens can access the financial records of political parties and candidates at a reasonable cost.

Score:

100

Comments: Some parties and individuals will reveal how much they spent on their campaigns voluntarily and for their own reasons.

References: Dr. Omar Aljazy, managing partner at Aljazy law firm, 12 October, 2007