Election campaign financing reforms

THE MOST controversial point of the draft amendments to the Electoral Code will be the changes to the financing of political parties and independent campaigns.

Electoral Reforms Commission Chairman Heriberto Araúz an  Electoral Tribunal judge,  who made the prediction said: “More than 90 percent of the financing of the election campaign is going to be covered with public funds,”.,

The commission evaluated 90 articles over the past 11 months.

The commission has approved an article that says  that election advertising can only be paid for with public funds. Private donations can only be used to pay for expenses such as transportation.

The reforms call for one  percent of the current revenues be used for public financing, which would provide $100 million for the 2019 election.

The proposed reforms will be delivered to the National Assembly in January.