References: Constitution, Article 17 (1)

References: Constitution, Article 17 (1) - www.paclii.org/vu/legis/consol_act/cotrov406/

References: Constitution, Article 17 (1) - www.paclii.org/vu/legis/consol_act/cotrov406/

Peer Review Comments: There are no laws that require the disclosure of how parties receive their funds, or what those funds are spent upon. The perception is that some parties have close links with certain members of the business community, and this affects the actions of the party. However, without rules about disclosure, such perceptions remain no more than speculation. (NIS 2004)

References: Constitution, Article 17 (1) - www.paclii.org/vu/legis/consol_act/cotrov406/

Peer Review Comments: The comments above state "Article 17 enables citizens to form parties." This is not relevant. What is relevant is whether or not there are limits on total political party expenditures and there are none, so the "no criteria" option is correct.

References: Constitution, Article 17 (1) - www.paclii.org/vu/legis/consol_act/cotrov406/

References: Constitution, Article 17 (1) - www.paclii.org/vu/legis/consol_act/cotrov406/

Peer Review Comments: If a candidate is already a member of parliament and is running for re-election or if the candidate is otherwise classified as a "leader" by s. 67 of the Constitution or s. 5 of the Leadership Code Act of 1998, then Part 4 ss. 31-33 of the Leadership Code Act 1998 will have previously required the candidate to submit annual financial returns. This provision is not part of the electoral process, however, but rather audits the finances of leaders once they are in office. There is no such mechanism for political parties.

References: Constitution, Article 17 (1) - www.paclii.org/vu/legis/consol_act/cotrov406/

References: Daily Post Chief Editor Kierry Mannaseh

Peer Review Comments: This question is not applicable in Vanuatu as there are no limits on campaign financing.

References: Daily Post Chief Editor Kierry Mannaseh

Peer Review Comments: There are no limits on campaign financing including corporate donations to candidates and political parties. With no limits (and no transparency in financing) there are no restrictions on a company's ability to financially support a candidate or political party.

References: Daily Post Chief Editor Kierry Mannaseh

References: Daily Post Chief Editor Kierry Mannaseh

Peer Review Comments: NIS report states that "there is also a substantiated instance of a candidate using misappropriated public money to bribe voters." (Ombudsman Report 06/98) but what is not clear is whether the ombudsman regularly reports on these issues.

Peer Review Comments: No agency has clear responsibility for monitoring political financing independently or initiating investigations. The Australian AusAID commissioned report "The Unfinished State: Drivers of Change in Vanuatu" (April 2007) states on p. 62 cites lack of effective regulation, lack of transparency, absent or ineffective rules on conflicts of interest and weakness of legitimate avenues for private sector lobbying.

References: Daily Post Chief Editor Kierry Mannaseh

Peer Review Comments: As there are no regulations on political financing this question is not applicable.

References: Daily Post Chief Editor Kierry Mannaseh

Peer Review Comments: Definitely not. Many contributions to political parties and candidates are made covertly or anonymously. No one knows exactly which political party or candidate is being funded by whom.

References: Daily Post Chief Editor Kierry Mannaseh

Peer Review Comments: Unless financial supporters are open about their contributions (such as the Dinh Van Than head of the Vanuatu National Party) in practice, political parties and candidates hardly ever disclose data relating to financial support and expenditures at all, let alone within a reasonable time period. Data relating to financial support and expenditures is kept anonymous, secret and confidential. It is not transparent.

References: Daily Post Chief Editor Kierry Mannaseh

Peer Review Comments: Disagree with the comments the "majority of the citizens are not concerned or interested with the financial records of the political parties and candidates." They are interested in financing arrangements and these are frequently talked about (for example, that the Green Party and its candidates are funded largely by segments within the Offshore Finance Centre). However, the lack of regulation of political party financing means that citizens have very little idea of the extent of financial support of parties and candidates.

References: Daily Post Chief Editor Kierry Mannaseh

Peer Review Comments: Any cost in a least-developed country is a major cost for a citizen.

Peer Review Comments: The financial records of political parties and candidates are not available and open to citizens at any cost.