Portuguese president dragged into party political funding row

LISBON, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa proposed on Wednesday that Prime Minister Antonio Costa and his fellow parliamentarians seek prior approval from the Constitutional Court (TC) before putting new party finance rules into law.

Rebelo de Sousa, writing on the President of the Republic's website, was commenting on controversial changes to party finance rules approved by parliament in an electronic vote on Dec. 21.

There has been criticism that the changes overstepped their remit and were pushed through parliament during the Christmas holidays, ensuring minimal public scrutiny.

The new law was drafted to meet a TC request, made over a year ago, that changes be made to party finance accountability models. Specifically, the TC called for the independent Political Finance and Accounting Body (ECFP) to approve party accounts at the first instance. The ECFP would thus have the power to implement fines and sanctions.

The new party finance law does as the TC requests, but includes more amendments besides.

There will no longer be an upper limit on how much money a party can collect through fundraising initiatives. Furthermore, VAT will be waived on all political party activities.

The Central Social Democratic-Popular Party (CDS-PP) and the PAN (People Animals and Nature Party) voted against the new law, objecting to the fundraising amendment. On Wednesday, Assuncao Cristas, leader of the CDS-PP, called upon the president to veto the decree.

The president himself said he has yet to read the new law. He was presented with the draft on Dec. 22 and is obliged by protocol to wait eight days before commenting.

His suggestion that proponents of the new law consult the TC directly is thus seen as a means to make use of the eight days and defuse the argument via an independent verdict. Enditem