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Corporate sponsorship of political parties is illegal: FEO

August 18, 2018 7:14 pm

The Fijian Elections Office has made itself clear that given the legal funding regulations of political parties, there is to be no corporate donations for political parties or their proposed candidates.

Supervisor of Elections – Mohammed Saneem was responding to comments made earlier in the week at a public forum held by six political parties raising their concerns on party fund raising avenues.

“The permission for corporates to donate to political parties. We believe that there is more capacity building needed in relation to international best practices around elections, however I would like to help. Ladies and Gentlemen many countries around the world have banned donations from corporate organizations to political parties or candidates, this move is largely to remove the influence of powerful corporates with their own commercial agenda from the governance of the country.”

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Saneem adding that during the 2014 elections, it was picked up by the Multi-National Observer group which commended the measure.

The Supervisor says the funding regulation is a common international practice.