Most Asian politicians cannot resist illegal election financing
Many Asian countries do not have a legal framework to limit election campaign finances, according to an international expert. Country Director of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems Beverly G. Hagerdon, speaking on election campaign financing, said that politicians cannot resist illegal contributions to finance their election campaign. She made these comments at a discussion held at the Organisation of the Professional Association in Colombo recently under the theme “Discussion on accessing information on campaign expenditure” organised by the Transparency International Colombo.
She said “We have to ensure that all political candidates are equitable and on a level playing field.” Unchecked contributions to election campaigns could result in elected politicians feeling obligatory to their benefactors. This creates an undue influence and a vicious cycle where corruption in governance is concerned. “You can have the perfect electoral system in Sri Lanka but if there is no level playing field in terms of campaign finances, this will undermine democracy.” However according to the covenant on international and civil rights, reasonable expenditure on campaigns may be justified to ensure the free choice of voters who are not undermined. Racial discrimination may also undermine the balance participation of the vulnerable population.
Around 80 per cent of counties do not have any type of regulation or legal framework and Sri Lanka was one those countries that have not regulated in setting up any legal frame work to monitor campaign finances. About 14 countries in Asia limit donor contributions whereas 23 countries do not limit such contributions, she said. Political Research Head of the Verite organisation, Sumith Chaaminda said matters relating to changes in the electoral system that impact young people advocating radicalism have not been exhaustively dealt with. It has been found that political parties when submitting proposals regarding changes of the electoral system have included proposals that are only advantages to them.
He said many were of the view that under the present Proportional Representative electoral system candidates elected do not represent an electorate as it was under earlier constitutions.
However under the 1977 constitution the two major political parties were able to secure more seats in the parliament than the total number of votes they polled. Likewise at the 1970 parliamentary elections, the SLFP alliance was able to muster two thirds of the seats in the parliament although they did not poll more than 50 per cent of the total number of votes under that constitution. However the Proportional Representation system introduced in 1978 was different to the present system. A political party had to secure 12.5 per cent of the total number of votes to be represented in parliament. This enabled only powerful political parties to secure representation in parliament. But in 1988 the Proportional System was changed when the overall percentage was reduced by 5 per cent which enabled small parties like the JVP, Muslim Congress and other political parties to enter parliament.
The small political parties would not have been able to enter parliament had the percentage not reduced in 1988,” he said. Unlike in the Indian political structure the caste system in Sri Lankan politics is not visible although it plays a significant role. Executive Director of Transparency International, Asoka Obeysekera said according to legislation one has the right to peruse someone else’s asset declaration but was not entitled to disseminate that information for public consumption. He said on a payment of Rs. 750 anyone could obtain an asset declaration of a public servant or a politician. Where a politician was concerned one has to seek permission from the Speaker of the Parliament and where a minister was concerned one had to seek permission from the President. However under the declaration of Asset and Liabilities Act there is a penalty for disclosing such information. But in India such information could be disseminated, he said.