The First Online Public Disclosure of Information on Political Funds Raised and Spent by Candidates for the 19^th National Assembly

The National Election Commission announced that for the first time in the history of National Assembly elections, statements of incomes and expenses of political funds reported by candidates for the 19^th National Assembly elections would be released through the NEC website in accordance with the Political Funds Act, Article 42.

From May 18 to August 20 2012, anyone may have access to such documents as accounting reports and statements of incomes and expenses of political funds reported by the candidates who ran for the 19^th National Assembly elections. Not only the accounting reports, statements of incomes and expenses of political funds but also any supporting documents are available at each election commission in the district concerned. Anyone interested may also request the issue of copies of those documents in writing. However evidence documents including receipts and copies of bank accounts shall be ruled out from the list of supporting documents available to be issued.

During the above period, statements of incomes and expenses are available for inspection on the NEC website.

According to the NEC, for the political parties which won proportional representation seats in the 19^th National Assembly, the statements of political funds raised and spent by the parties will be released through the NEC website May 25 to August 27 2012. In the case that political parties have gained no seat in the National Assembly and their registration with the NEC has therefore been cancelled, their statements of incomes and expenses of political funds will be made public May 25 to August 3 2012.

The NEC also made it clear that whoever has an objection over details of accounting reports may lodge his/her objection. To create a clean and transparent political culture, the NEC also requests to actively inspect the documents mentioned above and call 1390 in the following case:

When omission of information, report of false information or illegal campaign spending has been detected.

The NEC stated that it has been looking into the accounting reports and statements to see if there is any omission of information, report of false information, falsification of evidence documents, etc. On-site inspections as well as documentary examinations have been under way.