Sweden slammed for political funding secrecy
Published: 26 Oct 10 09:01 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/29826/20101026/
Transparency International Sweden has criticised the country for its lack of regulations governing the financing of political parties, arguing that "it is high time to wash off this unnecessary blemish on our democracy".
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Transparency International Sweden, part of the global network Transparency International (TI), works to monitor and combat corruption. Its annual Corruption Perception Index (CPI) ranks the degree of corruption in around 180 countries.
In 2008 Sweden was the country deemed to be the least corrupt, but in 2009 it fell two places. This year Sweden received the same number of points as last year, but fell further in the rankings.
"We remain among the top ranks however," wrote TI Sweden regarding the CPI 2010 which is presented on Tuesday.
The survey was however completed before the massive corruption scandal in Gothenburg became known and TI Sweden argues that a slew of recent cases indicates that the incidence of corruption is on the rise in the country.
"As is clearly shown it is the municipal sector which is particularly exposed," the organisation wrote in Dagens Nyheter.
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The Swedish system seems to allow donations from non voter, companies, foreign companies and one assumes foreign governments, non of these prioritize the interests of Swedish voters.
1) Only those eligible to vote in Sweden can make donations - no companies or trade unions - if they can persuade members and share holders to donate that is OK
2) A limit on donations from voters - 10 000 sek each per annum - avoids problems like Tony Blair accepting a million pounds to formula 1, to delay anti smoking legislation. 10 000 sek per person allows voters to support their party, but it is not large enough to buy a party, unless Swedish politicians are especially cheap.
3) All donations to be declared in the year in which they are made.
4) No making of loans to parties - a way of bypassing the limits set on donations.
5) Close down other ways of effectively making donations - highly paid speaking engagements, invitations to meetings in exotic locations, buying 10 000 copies of a politicians book etc.
The unions vehmently oppose transparency as does the business lobby. Ordinary people are caught between the hammer and the anvil on that one.
The simple fact is, most of the funding for all of the political parties in Sweden, does not come from individuals. it comes mostly from institutions.
You mean to say if I was a big company from the USA, ofcourse i think repulic and we would be with Moderates to reduce tax and bring a huge gap in society as long as I make money!! like the America life...
If my tax was 10 million a year for example under the law of Social D, and it would be cut by 40% by Modrates, It would be very easy for me to sacrifice 3,000000 and donate secretly to Moderates and bring about support than pay 10Mil every year...
And ofcourse many companies are doing that...lots of foriegn companies...