Brussels – Ahead of the European elections, a coalition of media workers has unveiled the largest political funders in the EU, revealing the financial backers behind various political parties.
In a joint investigation by 50 journalists from 26 outlets across the EU and Notworthy, the “Follow the Money” project disclosed the extensive funding details of political parties in countries including Ireland. The investigation highlighted both government subsidies and private donations, exposing significant dependencies on these funds.
Ireland’s Political Funding
- Government Subsidies: Political parties in Ireland receiving over 2% of first preference votes get government funds. Ireland allocates about €3.50 per taxpayer to political party funding, ranking eighth in the EU.
- Corporate Donations: Companies can donate to political parties, but in recent times, official figures show that political parties in Ireland received only €2,000 in corporate donations.
- Transparency Issues: Despite strict donation limits, only 8.37% of donations were disclosed between 2019 and 2022, although this is more transparent than many other EU countries.
EU-Wide Findings
- Heavy Dependence on Public Funds: From 2019 to 2022, 80% of political parties’ income came from public funds. Across the EU, political parties received €3.7 billion in government funding.
- Private Donations: 300 political parties received €685 million from private individuals and companies in the same period.
Key Country Highlights
- Germany: Major contributors include Allianz, Florian Rehm, Philip Morris, and metal and electro industries, with significant donations to Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s SPD and the opposition CDU.
- Italy: Political parties received €6 million, ranking second in the EU.
- Bulgaria: MP Nikolay Sabev, owner of a private postal service, donated €155,000 to the We Continue to Change party and was appointed Minister of Communications.
- Poland: 80% of donations to the Law and Justice (PIS) party’s 2019 campaign came from government company employees.
- Finland: A trust formed by wealthy business owners donated €1.5 million annually to the Swedish People’s Party, bypassing donation limits.
Largest Individual Donor
Billionaire Steven Schurmann, a Dutch tech entrepreneur, donated €1.25 million to Germany’s Die Grünen and €1 million to the Dutch liberal party D66 via The Dreamery Foundation.
This comprehensive investigation sheds light on the intricate web of political funding in the EU, emphasizing the significant role of both public and private funds in shaping political landscapes.