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The SP sets its election campaign budget at 6.9 million francs. The center reports 6.5 million francs, the Greens 3.7 million and the Green Liberal Party estimates the fund at 2.9 million francs. The Evangelical People’s Party (EPP) budgets 1.2 million euros. This reflects the status as of September 18, as shown by the figures published on the Internet by the Federal Audit Office (SFAO).
The largest individual donor at national level is former federal councilor Christoph Blocher (82). The mastermind provides “his” SVP with 550,000 francs, as shown by the database of the Federal Financial Control Authority (SFAO), which was set up as part of the transparency of political financing. Blocher made his support known in advance.
Major donors are an exception
Number two are the Swiss Trade, Employers and Farmers Association and Economiesuisse with 500,000 francs each. You support the “Perspective Switzerland” campaign for civilian candidacies.
The SVP-affiliated Foundation for Civil Politics and Carmita Burkard for the Greens also came in second place. The Sika heiress transferred one million francs to the Greens, but half went to the cantonal departments.
According to the EFK, major donors are an exception. However, the ten largest individual donations account for 40 percent of the donations that must be reported by name.
As part of the transparency of political financing, the SFAO is collecting data for the federal elections for the first time. The first investigation in particular is the most complex, EFK director Pascal Stirnimann said on Tuesday in a limited background interview with the media in Bern.
In setting up the necessary structures, the regulator used only half of the approved loan of two million francs. She didn’t hear about the new job until August 2022. During the interview, Daniel Hasler, head of the Transparency in Political Financing Department, stated that everything was successfully accomplished under great time pressure.
Political actors must report campaigns with a budget of more than 50,000 francs and donations of more than 15,000 francs to the EFK, stating their name. It is not the individual candidates who have to report, but the campaign leaders.
The budgets for the National Council elections must first be made public. Only after the elections do the State Councils have to ensure transparency and only if they are successful.
SVP has the most expensive campaign
For the National Council elections, reporters recorded 257 campaigns for more than 50,000 francs and 475 reports. The reports relate to the 257 budgeted income for the campaigns, 218 reports mention donations of more than 15,000 francs. Two-thirds of the campaigns are led by associations, clubs, parties and other bodies.
As the SFAO has noted, campaigns for many National Council seats up for grabs – that is, in the larger cantons – are more extensive and expensive. With exceptions: Lucerne, Valais, Thurgau, Basel-Stadt and Zug had more campaigns compared to the number of seats. This can be explained by the intensity of the election campaign.
75 percent of the campaigns cost between 50,000 and 100,000 francs. But they only account for 15 percent of sales. A third of the budget is eaten up by campaigns worth over half a million francs. With 4.8 million francs, the SVP Switzerland has the most expensive campaign, which, for example, involves distributing the election newspaper to all households.
The impression was that it was very fair
The announced donations amount to 10.5 million francs and therefore 21 percent of the budgeted income. As Stirnimann said, this is in line with expectations. He had the impression that it was very fair. The SFAO carries out random checks. It can punish offenders with 40,000 francs. Final accountability will take place after the elections.
Stirnimann acknowledged problems with donations from foundations. The campaigns of two organizations for the same candidate do not have to be added together. With a budget of less than 50,000 francs, they do not have to be reported as separate campaigns. Ultimately, the EFK is powerless against cleverness such as campaigns for 49,999 francs and donations of 14,999 francs. (SDA)
Source:Blick
I am Liam Livingstone and I work in a news website. My main job is to write articles for the 24 Instant News. My specialty is covering politics and current affairs, which I’m passionate about. I have worked in this field for more than 5 years now and it’s been an amazing journey. With each passing day, my knowledge increases as well as my experience of the world we live in today.
