Parteispenden

Parteispenden, also known in German as “Parteienfinanzierung durch Spenden”, refer to monetary contributions made by individuals, companies, or other entities to political parties. In Germany, the practice is regulated by the Political Parties Act (Parteiengesetz) and the Federal Elections Act (Bundeswahlgesetz), which aim to ensure transparency and limit undue influence on the political process.

Legal provisions set specific thresholds for donations. Contributions from natural persons are not capped in amount, but parties must disclose any donation exceeding 10 000 euros per donor per calendar year. Corporate donations are prohibited for parties that receive state funding; however, legally established associations and corporations may donate up to 50 000 euros annually, provided the donor’s name and amount are reported. All disclosed donations are published in the parties’ annual financial statements, which are available to the public and supervised by the Federal Returning Officer.

The transparency requirement is intended to prevent corruption and enable voters to assess potential influences on party policy. Critics argue that the reporting thresholds still allow sizable hidden contributions, especially through intermediary organizations, and that the system favors parties with affluent donor bases. Reforms have been discussed to lower disclosure limits and tighten the definition of permissible donors, but as of now the existing framework remains in force.