The government initiated the draft amendments to the Political Parties Act more than a year ago. As well as the ban, it has expanded the oversight of the Political Parties Financing Surveillance Committee (ERJK).

On Wednesday, the bill was supported by 50 members of the Riigikogu, while 22 voted against it at the third reading. 

Social Democrat MP Riina Sikkut said the ERJK can now request documents and call individuals to appear before it.

"That will undoubtedly allow them to better supervise how political parties are financed here and how money is used for election campaigns," she said.

At the second reading, the coalition also supported Isamaa's amendment to ban citizens of third countries from financing political parties.

Isamaa parliamentary group chair Helir-Valdor Seeder said people who are allowed to finance political parties in Estonia should also have the right to participate in politics and bear responsibility for implementing it.

"These are people who can also run for office in Estonia — Estonian citizens and European Union citizens. Naturally, this is also a preventive measure from a security perspective, so that Estonia's politics are not directed and financed by citizens of states hostile to us," Seeder explained.

In the case of a prohibited donation, there are 30 days to return it to the donor. If that deadline passes, the money will pass to the state revenues.

Third country citizens were stripped of their right to vote in local elections several years ago.

The amendments once again sparked debate about whether the ERJK is needed at all.

Opposition parties EKRE and Isamaa are against the body and say the issue should be dealt with by the National Audit Office, while it is backed by the coalition and the Social Democrats.

The Center Party believes parliamentary groups did not have enough time to discuss the bill and that parliamentary group leaders should have met to further discuss the Political Parties Act.

The new laws also specify the active campaign period for elections. MP Kristo Enn Vaga (Reform) said the new framework stems from a European Union directive.

"It stipulates the transparency of political advertising, and there was a requirement that information be added to political advertising transparency disclosures indicating which election the advertisement is related to. There was no such provision in Estonia's legal framework," Vaga said.

The active campaign period for Riigikogu elections will begin after the elections are officially called, and for local elections 90 days before election day.

The amendments must still be promulgated by the president before they enter into force.

--

Follow ERR News on Facebook and Twitter and never miss an update!