​Parties that receive subsidies from the state cannot spend more than 30% of them on press and propaganda, according to a bill submitted to the government on Thursday by the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP). According to the initiative, after AEP’s audits, “a list of political advertising service providers used, services provided, amounts paid, and references to public or private funding sources used” will be posted on the agency’s website. website. The bill does not contain any direct reference to the publication of a list of the ultimate beneficiaries of advertising funds paid for by public funds, such as television, radio or newspapers.

Over the past two years, parties that receive subsidies from the state have spent a significant part of them, huge sums, on the press and propaganda. However, from AEP’s public data, only PSD in 2021 exceeded the 30% limit proposed in the draft submitted to the government.

What were the expenses of the parties in 2021 for the press and propaganda:

What expenses did the parties have in January-September 2022 for the press and propaganda:

Grant spending limits

The draft law, developed by the AEP, sets limits on expenditures at the expense of state subvention in several sections.

Thus, a limit of 60% of the total cost of subsidies has been set for expenses related to the activities of political parties, from the headquarters, to consulting lawyers and banking services.

A limit of 30% of the total budget subsidy is set for the expenses of political parties’ personnel and expenses related to the payment of intellectual property rights, as well as for salaries.

For expenses on political advertising, including expenses for the press and propaganda and expenses related to the organization of political activities, a limit of 30% of the total amount of subvention from the state budget is established. According to the draft law, press and propaganda expenses include expenses for printing, television, radio, online, etc.; media/online, social media, social networks; subscription to press publications; production and distribution of commercials, announcements, online/street banners, etc.; advertising and promotion.

If necessary, 40% of the total budget subsidy can be used to finance election campaigning and referendum campaigning.

Limits on candidate campaign contributions

The bill also proposes to change the maximum amount of candidate contributions to the election campaign.

Thus, they:

• a) 50 minimum basic salaries per country for each candidate for the post of deputy or senator – compared to 60 now
• b) 3 gross minimum basic salaries per country for each list of candidates for the local commune council; – against one now
• c) 5 gross minimum basic salaries per country for each list of candidates for the local city council; – compared to 3 now
• d) 10 gross minimum basic salaries per country for each list of candidates for the local council of the municipality; – compared to 5 now
• e) 30 gross minimum basic salaries per country for each list of candidates for the local council of the district municipality; – and at the present time
• f) 40 gross minimum basic salaries per country for each candidate list for the Bucharest Branch Council; – compared to 50 now
• g) 100 minimum gross basic salaries per country for each list of candidates for the General Council of the Municipality of Bucharest; – compared to 500 now
• h) 100 gross minimum basic wages per country for each county council candidate list; – and at the present time
• i) 5 gross minimum basic salaries per country for each candidate for the position of mayor of the commune; and at the present time
• j) 7 minimum basic salaries in each country for each candidate for the post of city mayor; – and at the present time
• k) 10 gross minimum basic salaries per country for each candidate for the position of mayor of the municipality; – and at the present time
• l) 20 minimum basic salaries in each country for each candidate for the position of mayor of the district municipality; – compared to 50 now
• m) 20 gross minimum basic salaries per country for each candidate for mayor of the sector of the municipality of Bucharest; – compared to 100 now
• n) 100 minimum basic salaries in each country for each candidate for the position of President of the District Council and Mayor of Bucharest; – compared to 200 now
• o) 500 minimum basic salaries per country for each candidate for the post of European parliamentarian; – compared to 750 now
• p) 10,000 gross minimum basic salaries per country for a candidate for the post of President of Romania – compared to 20 thousand now

In addition to the election contributions submitted by the candidates proposed to participate in the elections, a political party, political alliance or organization of citizens belonging to national minorities may contribute funds to their own election campaign within the limits specified above.

According to the draft law, only the following types of pre-election campaign materials can be used in pre-election campaigning:

• a) election posters with a height of no more than 500 mm and a width of no more than 350 mm;
• b) audio or video materials of pre-election campaign broadcast by mass media
• audiovisual;
• c) advertising in print media;
• d) pre-election campaign materials on the Internet;
• e) brochures, leaflets and other printed materials of the same category

Pre-election campaign material is any written, online, audio or video material used during an election campaign that calls on voters, directly or indirectly, to vote or not to vote in an election for a candidate or political party, clearly identified, shown in the draft.

Directions and limits of expenses for the election campaign

According to the draft law submitted for public discussion by the AEP, expenses for the election campaign can only have the following directions and limitations:

• a) expenses for the production and broadcast of pre-election campaign materials on the radio in the maximum amount 10% from general expenses that may be incurred during the election campaign;
• b) expenses for the production and broadcast of pre-election campaign materials on television in the maximum amount 25% from general expenses that may be incurred during the election campaign;
• c) expenses for the production and distribution of pre-election campaign materials in the press within the limit 20% from general expenses that may be incurred during the election campaign;
• d) expenses for the production and distribution of pre-election campaign materials on the Internet within the limit 25% from general expenses that may be incurred during the election campaign;
• e) expenses for sociological research, within the limit 25% from general expenses that may be incurred during the election campaign;
• e) expenses for the production and distribution of pre-election posters, within the limit 15% from general expenses that may be incurred during the election campaign;
• g) expenses for the production and distribution of brochures, leaflets and other printed pre-election campaign materials of the same category within the limit. 30% from general expenses that may be incurred during the election campaign;
• h) expenses related to telephone and Internet services, expenses for transportation and accommodation of candidates, expenses for food, accommodation and transportation of volunteers and members of a political party, expenses for renting premises and equipment, expenses for clothes of volunteers and members of a political party party indicating the name, name and logo of the competitor in the elections, protocol expenses intended for the organization of election meetings, expenses for legal assistance and other types of consultations, as well as for payment of services of financial administrators, in the maximum amount. 30% from general expenses that may be incurred during the election campaign;
• i) expenses related to special needs caused by a disability, such as facial expressions, gestures, personal assistants and/or certain access technologies and assistive devices, other than those provided for in letter c), up to 20% from general expenses that may be incurred during the election campaign;
• j) expenses related to the creation and distribution of pre-election campaign materials in formats accessible to persons with disabilities, except for those provided for in letter a)-d), f) and g), in the maximum amount 20% from general expenses that may be incurred during the election campaign;
• l) bank commission expenses