Open Data Albania is examining the public funds that political parties have benefited from the 2022 State Budget, in the form of Annual Financial Assistance. The Electoral Code, the Law on Political Parties and several decisions of the Reformation Commission recognize the right of Political Parties, participating in parliamentary elections, to collect funds from the State Budget every year. The funds’ distribution is based on the party’s performance in the latest national elections, mainly assessed on the number of Parliamentary seats they win. In addition, the parties become beneficiaries of the State Funds if they received more than ten thousand votes or more than one percent of the toal vote.
In the end, the distribution of funds and the formula used to deduct them, is based on the decision of the State Election Commissioner. The latter, by way of Decision Nr0. 31, dated February 2022, has assigned funds according to party performance for eleven parties, ten of which have secured parliamentary seats and one is a non-parliamentary party, but beneficiary of over ten thousand votes. In total, the fund for Political Parties in 2022, approved in the Law on State Budget, was calculated in the total amount of 345,600,000 Lek (three hundred and forty five million and six hundred thousand).
Beneficiary Political Parties, ranked by value, are positioned as follows: the Socialist Party of Albania PS was awarded the 151 494 783 Lek (one hundred fifty one million four hundred ninety four thousand seven hundred eighty three Lek); followed by the Democratic Party PD, awarded 104 926 170 Lek (one hundred and four million nine hundred and twenty six thousand one hundred and seventy Lek) in annual funds; The Socialist Movement for Integration Party, LSI secured 15 577 215 Lek (fifteen million five hundred and seventy seven thousand two hundred and fifteen); The Albanian Republican Party PR, benefited 13 223 679 Lek (thirteen million two hundred twenty twenty three thousand six hundred seventy nine); The Social Democratic Party PSD, 12 266 269 Lek (twelve million two hundred sixty six thousand two hundred sixty nine); Party for Justice, Integration and Unity, PDIU 9 753 657 Lek (nine million seven hundred fifty three thousand six hundred fifty seven); The Union for Human Rights Party PBDNJ, 8 018 647 Lek (eight million eighteen thousand six hundred forty seven); Agrarian Environmentalist Party of Albania AAP with 8 018 647 Lek (eight million eighteen thousand six hundred forty seven); Movement for National Development Party – LZHK– obtained 8 018 647 Lek (eight million eighteen thousand six hundred forty seven); Legality Movement Party PLL 8 018 647 Lek (eight million eighteen thousand six hundred forty seven) and The Hashtag Initiative Party NTH (Nisma Thurje) with 6 283 636 Lek (six million two hundred eighty three thousand six hundred thirty six).
Table: Public Funds Benefited by Political Parties in 2022
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania
The decision of the Commissioner and his assessment are based on Article 15/2, point 2, letter “e” of Law no. 8580, “About the Political Parties”, who provides that 70 percent of the over Fund will benefit the Parliamentary Parties, based on the number of parliamentary seats they won in line with the current Electoral System. Whereas, the Parties that won over 10 thousand votes in the last national election are awarded a 20% of the Fund and the final 10 percent is divided between the parties that received over one percent of the total vote.
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania
Regarding the budgeting for parties that have received over 10 thousand votes, the list of parliamentary parties is extended with the Hashtag Initiative Party (Nisma Thurje), having received 10 217 votes, but failing to win an MP seat in the Parliament. Via its decision, the Commissioner allocated a fund of 6 283 636 Lek (six million two hundred and eighty three thousand lekë six hundred and six lek) on behalf of the latter and the same for other parties that won the same amount of votes.
Meanwhile, parties that share the remaining share of the Fund, due to exceeding the threshold of 1 percent of national votes are only four: namely, the Socialist Party – headed by Edi Rama,- with 48.67 percent; the Democratic Party, – headed in 2021 by Lulëzim Basha,- with 39.43 percent, the Socialist Movement for Integration party, – headed by Monika Kryemadhi,- with 6.81 percent and the Social Democrat party, led by Tom Doshi, with 2.24 percent.
Table: Parties that benefit an annual public fund for crossing the 1% national threshold in the 2021 Elections
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania
Political parties, in addition to the State Budget funds, have other sources of funding for their annual operations and activities or to use during Election Campaigns. Their funding comes, , from quotas, donations, economic exploitation activities, etc. As allowed by the Law on Political Parties, as well as the Electoral Code. The financial statements of Political Parties are legally required to be audited annually and should be published by the Central Election Commission on the institution’s website.
You can find information and other articles on Political Parties in Election Campaigns and their Financing listed under the Election Processes tagline.
Download excel: State Budget Annual Funds allocated to Political Parties in 2022Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania
Contributed by: Ledio Bushi dhe Aranita Brahaj
Translated by: Rezarta Cushaj