The financing of parties and election campaigns from the state budget made the political entities more responsible and made these report more costs to the Central Election Commission (CEC). Last year, the political parties reported almost double costs to the CEC compared with 2015, shows a report on party funding in Moldova that was presented by “Promo-LEX” Association in public debates, IPN reports.

The Association’s financial expert Cornelia Calin said 28 parties in 2016 reported expenses to the CEC in more categories. “There were reported costs related to office renting, personnel, transport and media events, including trips abroad. Judging by the dynamics of the categories of costs reported in 2015 and 2016, it is evident that the reporting last year was better than the previous years,” stated Cornelia Calin. However, “Promo-LEX” estimated that expenses of 4.5 million lei weren’t reported last year and the reporting was thus partial.

Cornelia Calin noted that eight political parties last year accepted donations larger than the ceiling of 550,000 lei. “The law says the donations that exceed the ceiling must go through banks so as to ensure the transparency of the money, where is comes from and where it goes. When the donations are in cash, nobody sees anything. The source and origin of this money are invisible,” stated the expert.

Of 28 parties, eight risk being penalized and/or obliged to transfer the donations received in cash to the state budget or to return these, in a total amount of 30 423 862 lei. The Democratic Party is to transfer a record sum of 29 076 000 lei to the state budget, followed by the Liberal Party with 458 548 lei, “Our Patty” with 441 350, the Party of Communists with 214 550 lei, the Party “Platform Dignity and Truth” with 169 700 lei, the European People’s Party of Moldova with 24,300 lei, the Party of Socialists with 15 464 lei and others.