Four Political Parties Agree to Disclose Campaign Finances

Representatives from four political parties yesterday signed a campaign finance voluntary disclosure pact, promising transparency in how their election funds are spent and identifying the sources of their funding. The disclosure agreement was reached by the SRP, Human Rights Party (HRP), Funcinpec and Movement for Democracy in the absence of a law that makes it mandatory for political parties to declare how much they spend on election campaigning, and where their money comes from. Ten political parties have registered to contest the June 3 commune elections, and though the 2012 Regulations on Electoral Campaigning covers the distribution of party materials, campaigning hours and meetings—there are no strict rules around campaign funds and spending. …