The Promo-LEX Association launched a Monitoring Report on the electoral candidates’ finances during the campaign for parliamentary elections on 30 November 2014. The document contains an analysis of the declared and undeclared revenues and expenses of the candidates 10 October – 30 November 2014.

Based on the current legal provisions on election funding, and on the analysis of declared revenues and expenses of the candidates, and the estimates of Promo-LEX observers with regard to the candidates’ reported and unreported revenues and expenses, the Election Monitoring Effort has uncovered several major deficiencies:

• The total estimated quantum of total undeclared expenses was at least 14,916,866 lei (PDM – 9,592,846 lei, PLDM – 2,965,895 lei, PCRM – 703,917 lei, PL – 446,953 lei, PSRM – 411,636 lei, and others – 795,619 lei). Most of the undeclared expenses went to cover the organization of public events (74.82%);
• Two electoral contenders (PD and PLDM) went beyond the 5% deviation from the set threshold, risking sanctions such as cancelation of their registration;
• At least six candidates incurred expenses for organizing 181 concerts, 7 disco parties, two campaign launch events, and two concerts abroad. At least 91 musicians were involved in the events, which amounts to no less than 11,160,545 lei in unreported expenses;
• Nine candidates failed to report at least 728,200 lei in advertising expenses;
• Ten candidates had expenses for transportation, and, according to Promo-LEX observers’ estimates, they travelled approximately 114,718 km, thus unreported expenses amount to at least 397,723 lei;
• Twelve candidates had at least 379 employees engaged in the campaign at their central and local party offices. The total amount of payment for their work was not less than 1,014,622 lei;
• Ten electoral contenders involved a total of at least 4,032 volunteers in campaigning activities. Promo-LEX estimates show that at least 529,378 lei had to be spent for each working day of the volunteers.
• At least four candidates (PLDM, PSRM, PDM and PL) conducted campaigning activities in no less than six countries. Unreported travel expenses amount to at least 49,945 lei;
• According to Promo-LEX findings, 15 electoral candidates maintained at least 227 local offices throughout the country. A comparative analysis of the data presented in the candidates’ financial reports shows that the minimum quantum of undeclared rent expenses amounts 592,209 lei;
• 15 candidates failed to report at least 77,900 lei in expenses for maintenance of permanent premises;
• 26 candidates failed to report at least 366,344 lei as expenses for communication services.

The total amount of funds declared by the candidates during the electoral campaign was 116,721,720 lei. Candidates’ revenues grew 3.5 times compared with the campaign for 2010 elections.

According to the candidates, their declared expenses amounted to 116,721,908 lei, of which:

• 90.5% were spent on advertising;
• 2.56% were spent on public events;
• 1.28% covered transportation expenses;
• 1.01% were spent on renting premises;
• Other expenses represented 4.65%.
• Only one candidate declared expenses for the compensation of volunteers;
• Only 4 candidates reported expenses for paying staff members and employees.

See the Report here.

The Election Monitoring Effort is part of the activities conducted by the civil society under the aegis of the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections.

The Monitoring Effort for the Parliamentary Election on 30 November 2014 has received technical assistance from the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) and is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the Council of Europe, and the Stefan Batory Foundation from the funds provided by the Solidarity Fund as part of the “Support for Democracy” Programme of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For additional information, please contact:
Galina Sanduta, Press Officer of the Promo-LEX Election Monitoring Effort, GSM: 069 95 82 89,
E-mail: [email protected].