Wirtschaftswoche: Finnish political parties enjoy second highest state party subsidy in EU
The highest financial assistance to political parties is paid in Luxembourg
In Finland the state subsidy per voter to political parties is the second highest within the European Union, reports the German business magazine Wirtschaftswoche.
According to a survey commissioned by the magazine, Finnish political parties’ financial assistance was EUR 12.25 per voter. Troubled Greece was among the countries Finland left in its wake.
The EU average is much lower, at EUR 3.73.
Luxembourg tops the list of the highest state subsidy to political parties within the EU. The country’s political parties received a princely EUR 21.05 for each voter.
At the other extreme, in Latvia and Malta political parties receive no financial aid whatsoever from the state. Moreover, in Great Britain political parties get only EUR 0.33 per voter and in Germany EUR 3.08 for each voter.
Information about Greece’s financial support to political parties has raised vehement objection in the European Parliament.
At the same time when the EU has been supporting the debt-ridden Greeks, the country’s political parties received additional support from the government last week.
According to Wirtschaftswoche, some Greek political parties, including the New Democracy, the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), and three minor parties, will receive an additional subsidy of EUR 29 million prior to the Greek parliamentary elections to be held on May 6th 2012.
In Finland, the provisions of the state party subsidy are found in the Party Act.
Party subsidy is granted by the Government in accordance with the number of seats in Parliament. The use of the subsidy is supervised by the Ministry of Justice.
In 2012, the amount of state subsidy granted to Finnish political parties amounted to EUR 34 million, of which the actual party subsidy was EUR 18 million.
Publicity and communication activities were supported with another EUR 16 million.
According to a survey commissioned by the magazine, Finnish political parties’ financial assistance was EUR 12.25 per voter. Troubled Greece was among the countries Finland left in its wake.
The EU average is much lower, at EUR 3.73.
Luxembourg tops the list of the highest state subsidy to political parties within the EU. The country’s political parties received a princely EUR 21.05 for each voter.
At the other extreme, in Latvia and Malta political parties receive no financial aid whatsoever from the state. Moreover, in Great Britain political parties get only EUR 0.33 per voter and in Germany EUR 3.08 for each voter.
Information about Greece’s financial support to political parties has raised vehement objection in the European Parliament.
At the same time when the EU has been supporting the debt-ridden Greeks, the country’s political parties received additional support from the government last week.
According to Wirtschaftswoche, some Greek political parties, including the New Democracy, the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), and three minor parties, will receive an additional subsidy of EUR 29 million prior to the Greek parliamentary elections to be held on May 6th 2012.
In Finland, the provisions of the state party subsidy are found in the Party Act.
Party subsidy is granted by the Government in accordance with the number of seats in Parliament. The use of the subsidy is supervised by the Ministry of Justice.
In 2012, the amount of state subsidy granted to Finnish political parties amounted to EUR 34 million, of which the actual party subsidy was EUR 18 million.
Publicity and communication activities were supported with another EUR 16 million.
Helsingin Sanomat