Political Parties Draw 500,000 in Donations in 6 Months
Estonian political parties received 474,112 euros in donations during the first half of the year, with the ruling Reform Party leading the pack with 212,193 euros.
The Center Party collected 93,011 euros, followed by IRL with 84,195 and the Social Democrats with 43.816, Postimees reported.
During the last six months of 2013 those figures were higher, with the Reform Party gathering 365,000 euros, IRL 370,000, the Center Party 205,000 and the Social Democrats 200,000.
Hillar Teder - one of the founders and owners of O'Key Group, which is one of the largest food retailers in Russia - donated 50,000 euros twice in six months and Urmas Sõõrumaa, who has made his living in the security business, gave 25,000 euros twice to the Reform Party.
Each party receives state contribution every quarter, with the Reform Party receiving 440,000, the Center Party 350,000, IRL 310,000 and the Social Democrats 255,000 euros four times each year.
In the first half of 2014, Conservative People's Party drew 15,734 euros, the Independence Party 13,575 euros and the Greens 8,149 euros.