Less than half of OECD countries ban anonymous donations for political financing, according to data published in the 2024 released by the OECD. The report argues that this leaves these countries 鈥渆xposed to undue influence.鈥 The following chart shows which countries have enforced regulations on the complete ban of financial contributions from anonymous donations, publicly owned enterprises and foreign states and foreign enterprises.
According to the report, the problem with foreign donations is that they can 鈥渦nduly influence candidates and political parties and lead to overrepresentation of foreign actors鈥 interests in public institutions rather than the domestic public interest.鈥 For this reason, the OECD recommends the transparency and traceability of funds. Meanwhile, donations from publicly owned enterprises or state-owned enterprises can 鈥渂lur the line between public and private and distort governance framework agreements between state-owned enterprises and the state鈥, including the 鈥渋mproper diversion of public funds鈥 and risk of the idea that donations are given in exchange for 鈥減olitical allegiance鈥. Anonymous donations run the risk of the aforementioned donors circumnavigating rules.
As the following chart shows, bans on contributions to political parties from foreign states or enterprises are common for most OECD countries. Only Greece, Australia, Denmark and Sweden do not have this rule. Meanwhile, Switzerland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Australia, Denmark and Sweden stand out for not having a ban on funding from publicly owned enterprises.
