Seychelles: Party funding

Updated May 2006

Public funding

The Republic of Seychelles has made provision for the State to provide finances to political parties through a 1996 amendment to the Political Parties (Registration and Regulation) Act 1991 (hereafter referred to as "the Registration Act"). As amended, the Registration Act establishes a Political Parties Financial Support Fund ("Fund") which is supplied by appropriation acts of Parliament and administered by the Registrar of Political Parties (who is also the Electoral Commissioner; 3(1), 27). The Fund distribution is determined annually, before the end of January, and allocated to parties registered on 1 January of that year (Registration Act 29(1)).

The funds are allocated proportionate to the number of votes obtained by a party in the previous general election of the National Assembly (Registration Act 29(2)). Parties that did not participate in the election or that have registered since the previous election, but have registered candidates for the next general election of the National Assembly, are also entitled to funding; they are paid a proportion of the lowest sum allocated, determined by the length of time between close of nominations and the end of the year (thus if the lowest amount paid out is 4% of the total payout and nominations close on the 31st of March, they will receive ¾ of that year's payout: ¾ of 4% = 3% of total payouts for the year; Registration Act 29(3)).

The Commissioner is required to keep account of the Fund and submit an annual statement of accounts to the National Assembly (Registration Act 30).

Campaign funds accounting

Accountability for the expenditure of campaign funds is regulated by the Elections Act (CAP68A). In terms of this legislation either the candidate concerned, or an agent appointed by the candidate for this purpose, or the political party concerned, is liable for all expenses incurred during the campaign period and is obliged to keep full records of funds received and expenses incurred (Elections Act 93). Within 45 days of the election results being announced the responsible person must prepare a statement of funds received and expenses incurred and within 60 days submit the statement to the Electoral Commissioner; failure to comply with these provisions is an offence punishable with a R20 000 and three years imprisonment (Elections Act 94). For the purposes of these provisions the office bearers of the party are individually held liable (Elections Act 94(5)).

The accounts submitted do not, however, have to disclose the identities of either the donors of the funds, nor of those with whom the expenses have been incurred (Elections Act 94(2)). There is, thus, neither legislation requiring disclosure of funding sources nor any restrictions either amounts that money may be taken or expended in campaigning. Nor, yet, are there any restrictions on who may make donations.

Reference

ELECTIONS ACT CAP68A

POLITICAL PARTIES (REGISTRATION AND REGULATION) ACT 1991, amended in 1996.