THE FUNDING OF THE FUNDING OF POLITICAL LIFE IN POLITICAL LIFE IN
FRANCE :FRANCE :
TRANSPARENCY AND TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITYACCOUNTABILITY
Pierre-Christian SOCCOJA, Ankara, 8 July Pierre-Christian SOCCOJA, Ankara, 8 July 20052005
[email protected]@justice.gouv.fr
www.justice.gouv.fr/minister/minscpc.htmwww.justice.gouv.fr/minister/minscpc.htm
DEMOCRACY IS PRICELESSDEMOCRACY IS PRICELESSBUT HAS A COSTBUT HAS A COST
Legal status of PPLegal status of PP transparency of transparency of
resourcesresources expenditure limits expenditure limits
for candidates for candidates and partiesand parties
Independent Independent commission: CCFPcommission: CCFP
disuasive disuasive sanctionssanctions
declaration of declaration of assets:CTVPassets:CTVP
gender approachgender approach
1988 Law on Financing political life1988 Law on Financing political life 1990 Law on Expenditure limits- 1990 Law on Expenditure limits-
CCFPCCFP 1993 Law on Prevention of 1993 Law on Prevention of
corruption and transparency in corruption and transparency in economy and public procedures, economy and public procedures, creation CTVPcreation CTVP
THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK:
1995 Law on Financing Political life1995 Law on Financing Political life 1995 Law on declaration of 1995 Law on declaration of
personnal assets of members of personnal assets of members of government and others holders of government and others holders of public functions.public functions.
I - TRANSPARENCY in I - TRANSPARENCY in financing political partiesfinancing political parties
Fund raising strategies: Fund raising strategies: weak membership of PP, 1.6 % of the weak membership of PP, 1.6 % of the
electorateelectorate donations: 4-6 % of total party donations: 4-6 % of total party
incomeincome membership fees 8-22 % (95-98)membership fees 8-22 % (95-98) rallies, meetings, conference: 20%rallies, meetings, conference: 20% MPs ’ contribution to the PPMPs ’ contribution to the PP
TRANSPARENCY in financing TRANSPARENCY in financing political partiespolitical parties
Income from Income from private corporation or private corporation or public sector companies:public sector companies: ANY ANY LEGAL PERSONNELEGAL PERSONNE
forbidden in France since 1995forbidden in France since 1995 Avoid risks of : « plutocratic Avoid risks of : « plutocratic
financing »financing »
TRANSPARENCY in financing TRANSPARENCY in financing political partiespolitical parties
Conflict of interestsConflict of interests kickbackskickbacks toll gatingtoll gating through subtle strategies: research through subtle strategies: research
papers, consultancy works, papers, consultancy works, technical advice...technical advice...
Private donations : ceiling 7600 Private donations : ceiling 7600 euros per year and over 150 euros euros per year and over 150 euros must be given by cheques.must be given by cheques.
« Comité de soutien »: local « Comité de soutien »: local support to candidates without PP, support to candidates without PP, or loosing the support of their or loosing the support of their Party.Party.
TRANSPARENCY in financing TRANSPARENCY in financing political partiespolitical parties
PUBLIC SUBSIDIES:PUBLIC SUBSIDIES: since 1988 to candidates, and PP.since 1988 to candidates, and PP. 2 ways :2 ways : (modified 90, 95, 00, 03) (modified 90, 95, 00, 03) 1- parties with candidates for the 1- parties with candidates for the
parliamentary elections in 50 parliamentary elections in 50 constituencies , proportion to the constituencies , proportion to the number of votes in the first round number of votes in the first round (1%);(1%);
2- Proportion to the number of MPs : 2- Proportion to the number of MPs : condition : be beneficiary of the first condition : be beneficiary of the first part.part.
Law 2000: Financial sanction for non Law 2000: Financial sanction for non respect of gender equalityrespect of gender equality
Big parties: State support on Big parties: State support on average represents more than 50% average represents more than 50%
smaller ones: up to 90 %smaller ones: up to 90 %
TRANSPARENCY in financing TRANSPARENCY in financing Political PartiesPolitical Parties
2002 : 80 265 000 Euros to PP2002 : 80 265 000 Euros to PP Other supports: Other supports: Subsidy for MPS ’ personnal Subsidy for MPS ’ personnal
assistants, telephone costs, travel assistants, telephone costs, travel costs to constituencies, costs to constituencies,
PP of Parliamentarian groups have PP of Parliamentarian groups have free access to public channels « droit free access to public channels « droit d ’antenne », off electoral campaignsd ’antenne », off electoral campaigns
Law of 1995Law of 1995 semi-presidential systemsemi-presidential system national level : presidency and national level : presidency and
elections for Paliamentelections for Paliament local elections: mayors, general, local elections: mayors, general,
regional council regional council 5 principles5 principles
II -TRANSPARENCY in II -TRANSPARENCY in financingfinancing
Electoral campaignsElectoral campaigns
TRANSPARENCY in financingTRANSPARENCY in financingElectoral campaignsElectoral campaigns
Financial agent: Financial agent: « « mandataire »mandataire »
>9000 inhabts limit >9000 inhabts limit of expenditures of expenditures according to the lawaccording to the law
Account of Account of campaign, certified campaign, certified & given to CCFP& given to CCFP
CCFP approves or CCFP approves or not the accounts not the accounts if not, it refers to if not, it refers to the Attorney the Attorney General General
if approved, the if approved, the State gives State gives subsidies to PP > subsidies to PP > 5%, first round5%, first round
TRANSPARENCY in financingTRANSPARENCY in financingElectoral campaignsElectoral campaigns
Plus subsidies to cover the costs of Plus subsidies to cover the costs of « propaganda » (e.g.the printing of « propaganda » (e.g.the printing of election posters),election posters),
5% of the votes in the 5% of the votes in the constituency, first round constituency, first round
ACCOUNTABILITYACCOUNTABILITY
Disclosure of information on public Disclosure of information on public resources and private donationsresources and private donations
report to the special agency the report to the special agency the CCFP « CCFP « Commission nationale des Commission nationale des comptes de campagne et de comptes de campagne et de financements politiquesfinancements politiques ». ».
CCFP: « AAI »special agency set up CCFP: « AAI »special agency set up in 1990in 1990
controls campaign expenditurecontrols campaign expenditure 9 members, 5 years, nominated by 9 members, 5 years, nominated by
the Vice-President of the the Vice-President of the Conseil Conseil d ’Etatd ’Etat, the President of the , the President of the Cour de Cour de CassationCassation, and the First President of , and the First President of the the Cours des Comptes.Cours des Comptes.
It employs between 30- 40 staffIt employs between 30- 40 staff approves, rejects, changes the approves, rejects, changes the
reports filed with it by the parties reports filed with it by the parties or the candidates.or the candidates.
Refers to the Attorney General Refers to the Attorney General « « Procureur de la République »Procureur de la République », , and the electoral judge.and the electoral judge.
ACCOUNTABILITYACCOUNTABILITY
CTFVP CTFVP « Commission pour la « Commission pour la transparence financière de la vie transparence financière de la vie politique »politique »
Law 1988, (95, 96)Law 1988, (95, 96) Assess the declaration of assets of Assess the declaration of assets of
electoral officials, and certain electoral officials, and certain public company holderspublic company holders
ACCOUNTABILITYACCOUNTABILITY
Members of Government:Members of Government: MPs and senatorsMPs and senators European MPsEuropean MPs Local elected officials (general, Local elected officials (general,
regional, TOM,) mayors > 30 000 regional, TOM,) mayors > 30 000 InhbtsInhbts
Public company holdersPublic company holders
9 rapporteurs : 3 from the 9 rapporteurs : 3 from the Conseil Conseil d ’Etatd ’Etat, 3 , 3 Cours de CassationCours de Cassation et 3 et 3 Cours des Comptes.Cours des Comptes.
Report to the AG (Procureur de la Report to the AG (Procureur de la République) after unsuccessful République) after unsuccessful remarks to a candidate who does remarks to a candidate who does an incomplete declaration.an incomplete declaration.
ACCOUNTABILITYACCOUNTABILITY
In 2004 CCFP controled 8738 In 2004 CCFP controled 8738 accounts of electoral campaignsaccounts of electoral campaigns
concerning general elections concerning general elections (canton, regional, européennes)(canton, regional, européennes)
Cost : 84 million EurosCost : 84 million Euros
Examinated:Examinated: CantonaleCantonale: 8159: 8159 regional: 226regional: 226 European: 169European: 169
Rejected:Rejected: 215215 99 1313
The CCFP referred to the judge of The CCFP referred to the judge of the election 534 accounts (2004):the election 534 accounts (2004):
474 for the 474 for the cantonalescantonales elections elections 17 for the regional ones17 for the regional ones 30 for the European ones30 for the European ones The electoral judge acts also on The electoral judge acts also on
request of any voter.request of any voter.
474 cantonales elections: 474 cantonales elections: 223 candidates sanctioned 223 candidates sanctioned
« ineligible »« ineligible » 53 cases the judge recognises the 53 cases the judge recognises the
decision of the CCFP but admits the decision of the CCFP but admits the good faith of the candidatesgood faith of the candidates
7 cases , the judge rejects the 7 cases , the judge rejects the decision of the CCFPdecision of the CCFP
Increasing activity Increasing activity Legislative elections:Legislative elections: 1993: 5200 candidates / 8400 en 1993: 5200 candidates / 8400 en
20022002 Penal sanctions could be more Penal sanctions could be more
deterrent.deterrent.
The rules on contributions and The rules on contributions and spending limits are quite effective at spending limits are quite effective at national and local level.national and local level.
On presidential election it is, may be, On presidential election it is, may be, less true. The less true. The Conseil ConstitutionnelConseil Constitutionnel in charge of the monitoring the in charge of the monitoring the funding, has no power to apply an funding, has no power to apply an electoral sanction in event of electoral sanction in event of irregularities, or a breach of the irregularities, or a breach of the spending limits.spending limits.
CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION
Public subsidiesPublic subsidies No corporate donationsNo corporate donations Various laws since 1988 with risks Various laws since 1988 with risks
of loopholesof loopholes transparency, effective disclosure transparency, effective disclosure
and accountability through and accountability through comprehensive reports.comprehensive reports.
