September 2020

THE FUNDING OF THE ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN

– 2020 LOCAL

ELECTIONS

Monitoring Report no. 3

The funding of the electoral campaign – 2020 local elections

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Semilunei 7, ap. 1

Bucharest

www.expertforum.ro

Policy brief EFOR #93

Author

Septimius Pârvu, Electoral Expert, Expert Forum

Translation

Irina Mocanu & Septimius Parvu, Expert Forum

Report published within a project funded by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs

(INL), implemented by Expert Forum in partnership with CEELI Institute and the International Foundation for

Electoral Systems (IFES).

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This report analyzes the data declared by electoral competitors to the Permanent

Electoral Authority (PEA) which has been published on the online platform

www.finantarepartide.ro by September 18. For a more general analysis of the

legislative framework and the issues related to the financing of the electoral

campaign, please read the first monitoring report published at the beginning of

September1.

EFOR has gathered all the information related to the electoral campaign and

developed a database that will be updated as the Permanent Electoral Authority

publishes new data. You can access the database and the related statistics on

www.expertforum.ro/finantari-partide/contributii-campanie.html

The electoral pre-campaign

In addition to the first report, EFOR has identified the costs for the precampaign -

the period that ended on August 27 - for the Save Romania Union. The other

parliamentary parties to which we had sent requests for information have not

responded yet. Pro Romania spent 776.612,29 lei from subsidies for

outdoor/street promotion (billboards) and LED screens in several counties (July-

August), while USR spent 1.613.823,45 lei at the central structure level. The

expenditure is distributed as it follows:

● Market research and studies 42507,73

● Online advertising and creation 1.012.291,74

● Pre-campaign coordination 69.102,34

● Other services 28.621,07

● Materials for outdoor events 9.620,58

● T-Shirts 197.173,03

● Materials for the national pre-campaign 254.506,96

1 https://expertforum.ro/finantare-campanie-locale/

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The electoral campaign

On September 182, the Permanent Electoral Authority reported contributions from

the competitors worth of 125.238.229,33 lei, out of which 3.086.207,26 lei came

from independent candidates. According to own calculations, after analyzing the

database, the total amount, including the candidates' contributions and transfers,

would be about 122 million lei, considering that some entries are doubled.

The total amount shows that the funding in 2020 will be higher than in 20163,

despite the possible obstacles related to COVID-19 regarding the collection of

donations or membership fees. The expenditure may not exceed the electoral

contributions. Parties are still able to submit contributions until September 26. No

expenditure data has been published so far.

Up to this moment, there are around 16200 unique names in the database which

include candidates for all the public functions. In total, in Romania there have

been over 256 thousands applications. For the candidates’ lists, any candidate

may submit up to the upper limit of contributions. Given the problematic quality

of the database, it is difficult to estimate whether there are constituencies where

no contributions have been declared at all.

Contributions can be declared by from both candidates' funds and from what the

political parties transfer to the campaign, both from private funds and subsidies.

The majority of the funds declared come from the candidates' contributions. And

if we look at the source of the contributions, most of the money came from the

candidates’ own income (86,7%), then loans (12.4%) and the least money came

from donations (almost 1%).

2 https://finantarepartide.ro/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Raportare-contributii-locale-

18.09.2020.xlsx 3 Aprox. 54 millions lei. Take into consideration the fact that the minimum wage has

grown from 1200 de lei to 2230 lei

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In addition to the candidates’ contributions, political parties can transfer money

from private funds raised outside the election campaign as well as from subsidies,

according to a last minute legislative amendment, introduced by Law 135/2020.

Unlike for the Presidential or the elections for the EU parliament, party

contributions are relatively limited in the local elections. Until September 18,

parties transferred 4,5 million lei from the current central accounts to the central

campaign accounts and 1,6 million lei from the central subsidy account to the

central subsidy account for the campaign. Moreover, ALDE has allocated 3,9

million lei from the subsidies account to local and county/Bucharest branches.

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PNL declared the biggest amount of money so far, closely followed by PSD (almost

30%). The independents have declared 2,9% of all contributions according to the

Permanent Electoral Authority database.

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Constanta county registers the highest declared contributions, accounting for

almost 5% of the total funds, followed by Cluj, where 3,6% of the funds were

declared, without taking into account the contributions of the political parties. Next

in line are Prahova, Bucharest (without sectors) and Arges. The counties with the

lowest contributions are Covasna and Harghita, but also Giurgiu where there have

been less than 1% of the total funds declared so far by the electoral competitors.

The candidates for mayoral positions were the most important contributors,

registering almost half of the declared money. This is explained by the stake of

the position, but also by the fact that for the lists of local councilors the thresholds

are relatively small. However, the contributions for general mayors and county

council presidents remain the most significant. Thus, nine candidates have

reached the maximum contribution threshold, namely 446.000 lei (see Annex 1)

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As far as the county councils are concerned, only ten parties have reached the

highest value that can be reported and used in the campaign, namely 223.000 lei.

The strategies adopted by political parties to secure funding for the candidates on

the lists were different. If in some cases contributions were divided among the

members of the list, in others only one person declared the full contribution. For

instance, on the lists for local city councils there are three cases in which the

amount of 66.900 lei was covered by a single candidate:

County

Party Name Circumscription Total contribution– own income

GALATI PSD ENACHE CRISTIAN-SORIN

LOCAL COUNCIL CIRCUMSCRIPTION NO.1

66900

SALAJ PMP STIRB RADU ALEXANDRU

LOCAL COUNCIL ZALAU CIRC.NO 33

66900

CLUJ PMP PISCHIS RAZVAN-DANIEL

LOCAL COUNCIL - Cluj Napoca 66900

At sector level, 4 candidates for the mayoral position reached the limit of 223.000

lei: Adrian Moraru (PNL, S3), Mihail Neamtu (PMP, S3), Dan Cristian Popescu

(PSD, S2) and Florin Manea (Bucharest 2020, S2). Adina Alberts, Pro Romania

candidate forf Sector 1, was also very close to reaching the maximum limit,

reporting 222.997 lei. At county seat municipalities (municipii reședință de sector)

we estimate that a number of 20 candidates declared the maximum amount of

contributions.

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At the General City Hall, nine competitors declared contributions. Candidates from

the Social Democrat Party or the Popular Movement Party did not declare any

money, and the parties did not report transfers from their own funds to the

Bucharest branch, according to data published by the Permanent Electoral

Authority. The biggest contribution was declared by Ioan Sirbu, candidate for Pro

Romania (almost 50% of the total funds declared for the General City Hall).

By analyzing a series of assets declarations we noticed that some of the candidates

could have difficulties in justifying how they have contributed with funds from their

own income or their contributions almost equal their annual income. Some

examples:

- The candidate to the position of Sector 2 mayor, Florin Manea (Bucharest

2020), declared an annual salary of almost 100,000 lei (to which are added

almost 190 thousand lei in accounts, but also debts of over 90 thousand

lei), but he contributed with the maximum value of 223,000 lei from his

own income.

- David Adrian Nicolae (PNL), candidate for the presidency of Hunedoara

County, declared a contribution of 350,000 lei from his own income,

although it’s much lower than this amount.

- Iulian Popescu (PNL), candidate for the Presidency of the Gorj County

Council, contributed with 250,000 lei, although he has incomes lower than

this amount (in the statement, however, amounts appear as loans that

exceed that value).

- Știrb Radu Marcel (PMP) is a candidate for CJ Sălaj from PMP and registered

a contribution of 223,000 lei, although he has a salary of 26,400 lei and

works at the Romanian Post.

- For the general council, the most generous contributor was Enăchescu

Marian Daniel (PMP), with 240,000 lei. Although the contribution is

reported as being from his own income, the wealth declaration of the

candidate shows that the annual income barely exceeds 100,000 lei.

- Gabriel Rădulescu, a candidate for the General Council, contributed with

150,000 lei from loans, but the wealth declaration shows that he earns only

almost 20,000 lei per year, from renting a land, without any other income.

- Alexandru Susai is the PSD candidate for the General Council. He

contributed with 45,000 lei from his own income and with 73,000 lei from

loans. According to the wealth declaration, however, he has an income of

approximately 90,000 lei per year.

- Maxim Marius Cătălin is a PSD candidate for the General Council and

declared a contribution of 48,600 lei, the equivalent of the entire annual

income

Other candidates have resorted to loans, and some of them finance their campaign

exclusively from this type of contribution. PNL declared most loans (65), followed

by USR (50), PSD (37) and PMP (22). Pro Romania candidates have taken 17 loans

and those of PLUS a number of 16. The competitors who have declared the largest

loans (from individuals or credit institutions) can be found in Annex 2.

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Annexes

1. Top 10 contributors (all sources)

Name / The position that he/she is candidating for/ Party Contributi

on

THUMA HUBERT PETRU STEFAN / PRESIDENT County Council ILFOV / PNL 446000

PETER TEODOR / PRESIDENT County Council SALAJ / PMP 446000

MORARU DANIEL CONSTANTIN / PRESIDENT CJ CONSTANTA / PER 446000

DAVID ADRIAN-NICOLAE / PRESIDENT CJ / PNL 446000

STROE FELIX / PRESIDENT County Council CONSTANTA / PSD 446000

DUNCA ROMEO DAN / PRESIDENT County Council CARAS SEVERIN / PNL 446000

VASILE DORIN COSMIN / PRESIDENT County Council DOLJ / PSD 446000

LUNGU VASILE-CRISTIAN / PRESIDENT County Council CLUJ / PMP 446000

LUPU MIHAI / PRESIDENT County Council CONSTANTA / PNL 446000

ARSENE IONEL / PRESIDENT County Council NEAMT / PSD 443400

2. Contributors with the largest declared loans

Name / The position that he/she is candidating for / Party Loan

Vasile Dorin Cosmin / President County Council DJ / PSD 446000

THUMA HUBERT PETRU STEFAN / PRESIDENT County Council IF / PNL 446000

PETER TEODOR / PRESIDENT County Council SALAJ / PMP 446000

ARSENE IONEL / PRESIDENT County Council NEAMT / PSD 440322

BARBU VALENTIN / PRESIDENT County Council CALARASI / PNL 367000

COZMANCIUC CORNELIU-MUGUREL / President County Council NEAMȚ / PNL 350000

GLIGA DUMITRITA / PRESIDENT County Council MURES / PSD 320000

PAVEL MARIAN / President County Council IALOMIȚA / PSD 280000

CÂJU MARIANA / President County Council BRAȘOV / INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE 250000

TOMA CATALIN DUMITRU / President County Council VRANCEA / PNL 240000

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3.Candidates who might have exceeded the legal thresholds for contributions /

expenses4

County Party Name Position Sum Limit Date

BOTOSANI PSD GHEORGHIU

ANGEL

Mayor

Bucecea 15610 11500 04.09.2020

IALOMITA PRO ROMÂNIA MIHAI

DANIEL -

IONUT

Mayor Amara

15000 11500 2020-09-02

ILFOV PMP PETA IANCU

TRAIAN

MIRCEA

Local

Councilor

Gradistea 10000 2230 03.09.2020

GALATI PSD DOROBAT

VICTOR

Local

Counselor

Beresti Meria 6300 2230 27,08,2020

IASI PSD CRAUS IONEL LC Tomesti 5000 2230 31,08,2020

ILFOV PLUS CHIORALIA

FLORIN

STEFAN

LC Bragadiru

3122 2230 02.09.2020

TIMIS FDGR CSONTI

ADAM

LC Bield

3000 2230 9/2/2020

IALOMITA PSD VOICU FANEL LC Alexeni 2500 2230 31.08.2020.

SUCEAVA PRO ROMÂNIA ONISORU

ANDREEA

MARIA

LC Ipotești

2500 2230 2020-08-26

SUCEAVA PRO ROMÂNIA SIMINICEANU

MIHAELA

LC Mitocu

Dragomirnei 2500 2230 2020-08-27

SUCEAVA PRO ROMÂNIA LEONTE

IONEL

LC Hârtop

2400 2230 2020-08-27

IALOMITA PSD VOICU FANEL LC Alexeni 2500 2230 31.08.2020.

IALOMITA PSD DOLETE

ANGELICA-

ANA

LC Jilavele

2300 2230 01.09.2020

ARGES INDEPENDENT GHICA

DUMITRU

LC RUCĂR

2250 2230 9/1/2020

IALOMITA PSD ZAHARIA

PETRICĂ

LC Sărățeni

2250 2230 28.08.2020.

IALOMITA PSD MARIN

BIBICA

LC Manasia

2250 2230 31.08.2020.

IALOMITA PSD GRIGORE

PETRISOR

LC Boranesti

2250 2230 03.09.2020

IALOMITA PSD ZAMFIR

GEORGE

LC Adancata

2250 2230 04.09.2020

4 Some names can also be found in the first monitoring report. The PEA is the only institution that can issue a

report if the actual thresholds have been exceeded. Still, at this point, the database shows that in some cases candidates might have declared more than they are allowed to spend

The funding of the electoral campaign – 2020 local elections

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Semilunei 7, ap. 1 Bucharest

www.expertforum.ro

The funding of the electoral campaign – 2020 local elections

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