| 20 |
Are there regulations governing the financing of political parties? |
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20a:
In law, there are regulations governing private contributions to political parties.
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| Score: |
YES |
NO |
 |
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Comments:
References: Law on Financing Political Parties from 2004, Part II, Section 2
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20b:
In law, there are limits on individual donations to political parties.
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| Score: |
YES |
NO |
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Comments: The Law on Financing of Political Parties states that an individual donation cannot surpass the amount of 100 average salaries (as calculated the previous month by the State Statistical Office).
References: Law on Financing Political Parties from 2004, Article 16
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20c:
In law, there are limits on corporate donations to political parties.
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| Score: |
YES |
NO |
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Comments: The Law on Financing of Political Parties states that a corporate donation cannot surpass 200 average salaries (as calculated the previous month by the State Bureau of Statistics).
References: Law on Financing Political Parties from 2004, Article 16
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20d:
In law, there are limits on total political party expenditures.
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| Score: |
YES |
NO |
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Comments:
References: Although a special law has been passed that deals with the issue of financing political parties, no such limits have been indicated.
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20e:
In law, there are requirements for the disclosure of donations to political parties.
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| Score: |
YES |
NO |
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Comments: Every citizen and responsible state institution has access to the party finances.
References: Law on Financing Political Parties from 2004, Articles 4 and 5
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20f:
In law, there are requirements for the independent auditing of the finances and expenditures of political parties.
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| Score: |
YES |
NO |
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Comments: The Ministry of Finance and the State Audit Office have the authorization to audit the parties. Each year the party is obligated to send a financial report to the State Audit Office by March 31.
References: Law on Financing Political Parties from 2004, Articles 26 and 27
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20g:
In law, there is an agency or entity that monitors the financing of political parties.
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| Score: |
YES |
NO |
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Comments: Article 26 states that the Ministry of Finances and the State Audit Bureau have insight into the financial activities of political parties.
References: Law on Financing of Political Parties from 2004, Article 26
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| 21 |
Are there regulations governing the financing of individual political candidates? |
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21a:
In law, there are regulations governing private contributions to individual political candidates.
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| Score: |
YES |
NO |
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Comments:
References: Law on Financing Political Parties
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21b:
In law, there are limits on individual donations to political candidates.
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| Score: |
YES |
NO |
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Comments:
References: Law on Financing Political Parties
Peer Review Comments: The law regulates only the finances of the political parties. It is only said that if the members of the Assembly are chosen as candidates of two or more political parties, the finances are divided in equal parts. This rule does not count if the parties are agreed otherwise.
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21c:
In law, there are limits on corporate donations to individual political candidates.
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| Score: |
YES |
NO |
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Comments:
References: Law on Financing Political Parties
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21d:
In law, there are requirements for the disclosure of donations to individual political candidates.
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| Score: |
YES |
NO |
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Comments:
References: Law on Financing Political Parties
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21e:
In law, there are requirements for the independent auditing of the campaign finances of individual political candidates.
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| Score: |
YES |
NO |
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Comments:
References: Law on Financing Political Parties
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21f:
In law, there is an agency or entity that monitors the financing of individual political candidates' campaigns.
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| Score: |
YES |
NO |
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Comments: Although not specifically indicated in the above mentioned law, it is the practice that the Ministry of Finances and the State Audit Office monitor the financing of individual candidates.
References: Law on Financing Political Parties
Peer Review Comments: The monitoring is made by the state election commission and the state commission for preventing corruption.
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| 22 |
Are the regulations governing the political financing of parties effective? |
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22a:
In practice, the limits on individual donations to political parties are effective in regulating an individual's ability to financially support a political party.
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| Score: |
100 |
75 |
50 |
25 |
0 |
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Comments: Loopholes exist, through which individuals can indirectly support political parties above and beyond those formal limitations. Such loopholes could include making donations to third-party groups that advocate on behalf of (or against) a particular party; or in-kind support that is not explicitly regulated by laws or regulations.
References: Interview with Dane Taleski, M.A., independent political commentator, Aug. 10, 2008, Skopje. Interview with Marija Risteska, MPA, executive director of the Center for Research and Policy Making, Aug. 14, 2008, Skopje.
Peer Review Comments: The vast majority of individual contributions to a political party is made outside of the formal system of limits. Most of the money comes from the state budget, but it is hard to prove.
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22b:
In practice, the limits on corporate donations to political parties are effective in regulating a company's ability to financially support a political party.
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| Score: |
100 |
75 |
50 |
25 |
0 |
|
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Comments: Loopholes exist through which companies can indirectly support political parties above and beyond those formal limitations. Such loopholes could include making donations to third-party groups that advocate on behalf of (or against) a particular party, or in-kind support that is not explicitly regulated by laws or regulations.
References: Interview with Dane Taleski, M.A., independent political commentator, Aug. 10, 2008, Skopje. Interview with Marija Risteska, MPA, executive director of the Center for Research and Policy Making, Aug. 14, 2008, Skopje.
Peer Review Comments: This kind of illegal financing is very hard to control, because it does not go through the banks. If you see the political parties' donation records, they usually don't surpass 5,000 euros of donations, which is far from the truth.
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22c:
In practice, the limits on total party expenditures are effective in regulating a political party's ability to fund campaigns or politically-related activities.
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| Score: |
100 |
75 |
50 |
25 |
0 |
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Comments:
References: Interview with Dane Taleski, M.A., independent political commentator, Aug. 10, 2008, Skopje. Interview with Marija Risteska, MPA, executive director of the Center for Research and Policy Making, Aug. 14, 2008, Skopje.
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22d:
In practice, when necessary, an agency or entity monitoring the financing of political parties independently initiates investigations.
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| Score: |
100 |
75 |
50 |
25 |
0 |
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Comments:
References: Interview with Dane Taleski, M.A., independent political commentator, Aug. 10, 2008, Skopje. Interview with Marija Risteska, MPA, executive director of the Center for Research and Policy Making, Aug. 14, 2008, Skopje.
Peer Review Comments: There are very few investigations initiated, and only in cases in which there is public pressure. Not one has had closure.
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22e:
In practice, when necessary, an agency or entity monitoring the financing of political parties imposes penalties on offenders.
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| Score: |
100 |
75 |
50 |
25 |
0 |
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Comments: The agency is slow to act and unable to enforce its judgments.
References: Interview with Dane Taleski, M.A., independent political commentator, Aug. 10, 2008, Skopje. Interview with Marija Risteska, MPA, executive director of the Center for Research and Policy Making, Aug. 14, 2008, Skopje.
Peer Review Comments: There hasn't been any punishment for a political party so far. The cases end at the state commission for preventing corruption, with no conclusion.
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22f:
In practice, contributions to political parties are audited.
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| Score: |
100 |
75 |
50 |
25 |
0 |
|
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Comments:
References: Interview with Dane Taleski, M.A., independent political commentator, Aug. 10, 2008, Skopje. Interview with Marija Risteska, MPA, executive director of the Center for Research and Policy Making, Aug. 14, 2008, Skopje.
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| 23 |
Are the regulations governing the political financing of individual candidates effective? |
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23a:
In practice, the limits on individual donations to political candidates are effective in regulating an individual's ability to financially support a particular candidate.
|
| |
| Score: |
100 |
75 |
50 |
25 |
0 |
|
|
| |
Comments:
References: Interview with Dane Taleski, M.A., independent political commentator, Aug. 10, 2008, Skopje. Interview with Marija Risteska, MPA, executive director of the Center for Research and Policy Making, Aug. 14, 2008, Skopje.
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23b:
In practice, the limits on corporate donations to individual candidates are effective in regulating a company's ability to financially support a candidate.
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| |
| Score: |
100 |
75 |
50 |
25 |
0 |
|
|
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Comments:
References: Interview with Dane Taleski, M.A., independent political commentator, Aug. 10, 2008, Skopje. Interview with Marija Risteska, MPA, executive director of the Center for Research and Policy Making, Aug. 14, 2008, Skopje.
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23c:
In practice, when necessary, an agency or entity monitoring the financing of individual candidates' campaigns independently initiates investigations.
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| Score: |
100 |
75 |
50 |
25 |
0 |
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Comments: The agency has limited effectiveness when investigating, but is still fair in its application of power.
References: Interview with Dane Taleski, M.A., independent political commentator, Aug. 10, 2008, Skopje. Interview with Marija Risteska, MPA, executive director of the Center for Research and Policy Making, Aug. 14, 2008, Skopje.
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23d:
In practice, when necessary, an agency or entity monitoring the financing of individual candidates' campaigns imposes penalties on offenders.
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| |
| Score: |
100 |
75 |
50 |
25 |
0 |
|
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Comments:
References: Interview with Dane Taleski, M.A., independent political commentator, Aug. 10, 2008, Skopje. Interview with Marija Risteska, MPA, executive director of the Center for Research and Policy Making, Aug. 14, 2008, Skopje.
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23e:
In practice, the finances of individual candidates' campaigns are audited.
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| |
| Score: |
100 |
75 |
50 |
25 |
0 |
|
|
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Comments:
References: Interview with Dane Taleski, M.A., independent political commentator, Aug. 10, 2008, Skopje. Interview with Marija Risteska, MPA, executive director of the Center for Research and Policy Making, Aug. 14, 2008, Skopje.
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| 24 |
Can citizens access records related to the financing of political parties? |
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24a:
In practice, political parties disclose data relating to financial support and expenditures within a reasonable time period.
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| Score: |
100 |
75 |
50 |
25 |
0 |
|
|
| |
Comments:
References: Interview with Marija Risteska, MPA, executive director of the Center for Research and Policy Making, Aug. 14, 2008, Skopje; Interview with Risto Karajkov, PhD candidate at University of Bologna, writer, analyst, correspondent on civil society topics and on Balkans socio-economic and political affairs for Osservatorio sui Balcani, Aug. 11, 2008, Skopje.
Peer Review Comments: The political parties are obligated to disclose data relating to financial support, but they usually hide the real sources.
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24b:
In practice, citizens can access the financial records of political parties within a reasonable time period.
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| |
| Score: |
100 |
75 |
50 |
25 |
0 |
|
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Comments:
References: Interview with Marija Risteska, MPA, executive director of the Center for Research and Policy Making, Aug. 14, 2008, Skopje; Interview with Risto Karajkov, PhD candidate at University of Bologna, writer, analyst, correspondent on civil society topics and on Balkans socio-economic and political affairs for Osservatorio sui Balcani, Aug. 11, 2008, Skopje.
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24c:
In practice, citizens can access the financial records of political parties at a reasonable cost.
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| |
| Score: |
100 |
75 |
50 |
25 |
0 |
|
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Comments:
References: Interview with Marija Risteska, MPA, executive director of the Center for Research and Policy Making, Aug. 14, 2008, Skopje; Interview with Risto Karajkov, PhD candidate at University of Bologna, writer, analyst, correspondent on civil society topics and on Balkans socio-economic and political affairs for Osservatorio sui Balcani, Aug. 11, 2008, Skopje.
Peer Review Comments: Some of the political parties publish their financial records on their websites.
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| 25 |
Can citizens access records related to the financing of individual candidates' campaigns? |
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25a:
In practice, individual political candidates disclose data relating to financial support and expenditures within a reasonable time period.
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| |
| Score: |
100 |
75 |
50 |
25 |
0 |
|
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| |
Comments: Individual candidates rarely disclose their sources of funding and expenditures.
References: Interview with Marija Risteska, MPA, executive director of the Center for Research and Policy Making, Aug. 14, 2008, Skopje; Interview with Risto Karajkov, PhD candidate at University of Bologna, writer, analyst, correspondent on civil society topics and on Balkans socio-economic and political affairs for Osservatorio sui Balcani, Aug. 11, 2008, Skopje.
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25b:
In practice, citizens can access the financial records of individual candidates (their campaign revenues and expenditures) within a reasonable time period.
|
| |
| Score: |
100 |
75 |
50 |
25 |
0 |
|
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| |
Comments: Records may take from two to more than four weeks to obtain. Some delays may be experienced.
References: Interview with Marija Risteska, MPA, executive director of the Center for Research and Policy Making, Aug. 14, 2008, Skopje; Interview with Risto Karajkov, PhD candidate at University of Bologna, writer, analyst, correspondent on civil society topics and on Balkans socio-economic and political affairs for Osservatorio sui Balcani, Aug. 11, 2008, Skopje.
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25c:
In practice, citizens can access the financial records of individual candidates (their campaign revenues and expenditures) at a reasonable cost.
|
| |
| Score: |
100 |
75 |
50 |
25 |
0 |
|
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| |
Comments: Citizens can access the financial records of individual candidates (their campaign revenues and expenditures) at a reasonable cost, but retrieving records requires a visit to a specific office in the national capital, which takes time and money.
References: Interview with Marija Risteska, MPA, executive director of the Center for Research and Policy Making, Aug. 14, 2008, Skopje; Interview with Risto Karajkov, PhD candidate at University of Bologna, writer, analyst, correspondent on civil society topics and on Balkans socio-economic and political affairs for Osservatorio sui Balcani, Aug. 11, 2008, Skopje.
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