The funding of politics in Italy

In Italy the abolition of direct public funding to parties gave a greater role to private financing, increasing the risk of undue influence on the democratic process. A dossier as a part of the ESVEI project

Introduction

The Letta reform (legislative decree 149/2013, converted by law 13/2014) abolished direct public funding to parties in Italy, gradually reducing it to zero in 2017. Indirect forms of public financing remain – namely 2x1000 and tax benefits on private contributions – but private financing inevitably takes on a greater role. Public funding, however unpopular, has the advantage of being established with objective criteria. With private financing, on the other hand, there is the risk of undue influence on the democratic process by economic actors and political interests outside the country and the need arises to guarantee citizens transparency on the origin of available resources.

Here below we will discuss, also in a comparative fashion, the following points:

• the obligation of transparency and the matter of new political subjects;
• limits to donations from abroad;
• limits to donations by legal persons;
• limits to the amount of donations;
• effective transparency;
• the adequacy of control bodies.

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