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Political Contribution Act amendments proposed

The Cabinet yesterday introduced an amendment to the Political Contribution Act (政治獻金法) that stipulates the maximum dollar amount a political party can spend to sponsor its own presidential and vice presidential candidates as no more than NT$25 million (US$757,000).

As it stands, the act does not regulate any maximum donation.

"We figured out the need to amend the act since it went into effect in 2004 because most people suggested such a regulation be written in black and white, so we did," Cabinet Spokeswoman Chen Mei-ling (陳美伶) said during a press conference held following yesterday's weekly Cabinet meeting.

In addition to the maximum donation regulation, the amendment also sets maximum donations of NT$1 million each for legislative candidates, NT$3 million donation each for mayoral and commissioner candidates, NT$300,000 donation each for its city and county councilor candidates and NT$100,000 each for borough chief candidates.

Candidates must also expend their political donations within two years, the amendment says. Parties are permitted to seek public donations.

The amendment also proposes that political parties do not need to report donations to the Control Yuan under N$2,000, but whoever accepts political donations must issue a receipt to the donor.

In addition, political donations must be used to pay for campaign activities only. Candidates are not allowed to use political donations to pay off personal debts.

The proposed amendment will be forwarded to the Legislative Yuan for final approval.
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