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February 14, 2012
Sweden keeps secret party donations despite EU criticism
Published: 18 Feb 10 08:03 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/25062/20100218/
Despite strong criticism from the Council of Europe the Swedish government does not plan to outlaw anonymous donations to political parties, the justice minister Beatrice Ask told Sveriges Radio's Ekot news programme on Wednesday.
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Sweden is one of a handful of European countries where political parties can accept economic support without accounting for its origin. The practice has been criticized by the Council of Europe's corruption unit, which has recommended that Sweden increase transparency.
Within the current system in Sweden there exists a voluntary arrangement between the political parties where they declare the size and number of donations, but not the identity of the donor.
The system has its critics in Sweden with some arguing that the lack of transparency risks damaging public faith in the political system.
The government argues that as private donations only make up a small part of the pot - the majority of party funding is provided by the state system - it does not need changing.
"It must be okay for me to donate money to a political party without declaring it. There is no one demanding that we publish our member lists, that would be odd," Ask told Ekot.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
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Exactly
You need transparency!
United State's imperialist foreign policy in the Middle East and Latin America, which is was intrusive, is done on behalf of companies whose profit is threatened.
Sweden is wrong to say private donation makes a minor percentage of the fund accessible to political candidates in Sweden. In the US it started at a very low base before it dominated US poltics totally.
This isn't about whether or not private donations should or should not be allowed, but whether or not anonymous donations should be allowed.
IMHO any donations from non-government sources should not be allowed to be anonymous. It's important to see (for example) if Evil Co. AB or a wealthy individual is backing a specific party, and in the end influencing the party's platform. The first step is transparency, if it proves that the larger donators from private entities gain influence after a donation then the government needs to consider general donation pools to be distributed among all the parties.
If Sweden is going to continue to be a democracy and an active member of the European Union, Sweden needs to entrench democacry further into society, not remove it.
At present European MEP's are campaigning to have all moetary dontations and lobbying make 100% public for MEPs, which will be a brilliant step forward in teh democratic process for all.
Any arguement against complete 100% disslosure not only of all funding no matter how large or small the amount but also of any lobbying, no matter how much or little, is a direct attack on democracy.
In the USA, UK and Ireland party donations started out very small. Over the years they have increased. Now party funding in those three countries is basically commerical funding, with the consequences as seen during the recent economic collapse.
In Europe all party donations should be declared. Any attempt at annoymous dontation should be made a criminal offence. We need transparency in all politcal actions in all countries in Europe.
Germany in the 20's and 30's allowed donations to be kept from the public view. Look what that led to.
Democracy only occurs with complete transparency. That is absolute in the democratic process.
And donating to political parties is not a "public" transaction.
Come off it, Mrs. Ask. Pull the other leg!
LOL. Bofors weapons to India, SAAB Gripens to the Czech Republic and Austria, Volvo, Atlas Copco and Scania in Iraq's oil for food program, Skanska in Argentina. NCC and Skanska bribing Vägverket.
No wonder the Council of Europe is baffled. Perhaps Creamy Beatrice should spend less time on her front foot and more time catching up on the local news.