Adding transparency to party funding and standardizing the reporting of party spending. This is the objective of the Party Financial Accountability System, developed by the Regional Election Board (TRE) of the state of Maranhão and launched, yesterday, August 23, by the president of the Federal Election Board, Minister Carlos Velloso.
According to the Minister, the new system will oblige political parties to be more clear about how they spend their money. “The delivery of financial reports through electronic means, making receipts and expenditures available on the Election Board website, will make things more transparent for those who contribute to political parties.”
Financial reporting will be done via the Internet, which will handle the parties’ financial accounts. “The parties’ financial accounts will be prepared, examined, and disseminated electronically, making it faster to check them out,” Velloso said.
The new system, according to the Minister, will also make the parties more mutually vigilant. “We should trust the political parties, as we always have. But we expect more vigilance on their part. As we believe that this is the best form of supervision, we call on the parties to scrutinize themselves mutually. That is the best way to strengthen democracy.”
The Party Financial Accountability System was presented to the national committees of Brazil’s political parties in December and is expected to begin effective operations next year. In 2005 the declaration of party spending will be optional. “But we are going to assume it is compulsory,” Velloso stressed.
ABr
