Expected decrease in party donations due to transparency rules

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The transparency that has been in effect since October last year makes financing private parties a little more difficult in the short term, but in the medium term could help strengthen their acceptance and the militia system. This is the conclusion of a study carried out by the Büro Vatter research institute on behalf of the Club Politique de Berne. It was presented in Bern on Monday.

In particular, donations from large companies represent a not inconsiderable part of the finances of the national parties, especially in the bourgeois camp. Donations of more than 15,000 francs from private individuals are rare, however.

In candidate campaigns, such large sums are particularly common in large cantons in elections to the Council of States, and especially in the second ballot.

Image risk feared

Donations are not only made to support parties or politicians with similar concerns. Large companies in particular justify their donations to multiple parties as contributions to the militia system.

Respondents gave the following reasons for including larger donations: image risk, deterring customers, having to explain who is not supported, and uncertainty due to regulatory complexity and legal uncertainty.

Respondents believe that it is possible to circumvent the transparency rule and are convinced that attempts will be made to do so. In addition to distributing donations, depending on how the regulations are implemented, the creation of party-affiliated benefactor associations is a legal workaround.

More money for more professional games

Representatives of the national parties SP, FDP, Mitte, Grüne and GLP, but also of business umbrella organizations such as Economiesuisse, the Employers’ Association, Swissmem and Interpharma, but also the banks UBS and CS, as well as entrepreneurs who are also members of the National Council, were invited for the research. interviewed, such as Diana Gutjahr (SVP/TG) and political advisers.

Conclusion of the authors of the study: From a political point of view, it would be desirable for the parties to have more resources to perform their functions more professionally, from recruiting political personnel, setting political goals and defending interests in the political decision-making processes to mobilize in elections or ballots.

(SDA)

Source:Blick