22. 02. 12. - 16:09

Salzburg set to improve party funding transparency

Two provincial parliaments push for stricter regulations concerning the subsidisation of political movements.

The provincial parliament of Salzburg announced yesterday (Tues) it wanted to create a law which listed not just all kinds of financial support for parties but also donated items and personnel services. The established parties reportedly agree about introducing limits for election campaign costs as well. Political analysts are sceptical whether this settlement will lead to less spending on newspaper advertisements and roadside posters.

Salzburg’s Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the People’s Party (ÖVP) of deputy governor Wilfried Haslauer also plan to set up sanctions for factions which breach the more stringent rules. A similar project masterminded by the provincial parliament of Vorarlberg is understood to work as a role model for SPÖ Salzburg Governor Gabi Burgstaller and Haslauer.

Constitutional experts have criticised Austria’s leading political parties for years for failing to reform federal and provincial party subsidisation bylaws to create more transparency. Campaign trail analysts think that most of the established factions rake in significantly higher sums from individuals, supportive committees and private sector enterprises than they admit. Experts also criticise that the Austrian constitution fails to force the parties – which are all struggling to handle their soaring debts – to present a full list of figures and where the money came from.

Political scientist Fritz Plasser explained that the parties needed increasing amounts of money due to their outdated structures and soaring election campaign costs. He told the Salzburger Nachrichten: "It has to be put into question where such comprehensive, cross-country representations are needed in today’s media democracy. This strong presence and the personnel costs which are connected to it, is a significant cost factor."

Plasser said on Saturday Austria’s parties realised the potential of Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and other online platforms in recent years. The election campaign analyst points out that changes in this regard are not keeping them from investing large sums on posters and newspaper ads. Asked for his opinion on regulations of the financing of political parties in Austria, he said Western European standards must be achieved "urgently". Plasser branded Austrian law "totally ineffective" in this concern.

A study by political scientist Hubert Sickinger showed earlier this week that the state would spend 45.43 million Euros on the various political movements this year, down from 45.86 million Euros. Sickinger emphasised that this development did not automatically mean that the country’s parties must do with less financial support since their parliamentary factions were set to get money. He explained that these sums would increase due to the recent agreement to jack up public servants’ salaries by 2.95 per cent on average from this month. Financial support for the federal parliament’s five factions is depending on civil servants’ incomes by law.

The academies of the federal SPÖ-ÖVP coalition and Austria’s opposition parties will have to do with fewer subsidies in the coming years due to the government’s most recent savings package. Members of the parliament (MPs) will not earn more in 2013 than they received in 2012. The factions decided a few weeks ago to freeze MPs' wages – for a fourth year in a row. At the same time, the Republic of Austria will support the political parties of the country with millions of Euros in around one and a half years' time depending on their performance in the next general election.