Parties Push for Solid Financing of Party-Affiliate NGOs
Parliament is planning to amend the Political Parties Act in a way that would guarantee party-affiliated foundations fixed funding from the state budget.
Currently the non-profits, the stated tasks of which include educating the public in political issues, introducing world views and fostering democratic values, have been financed by the taxpayer only on project basis, which means they have had to compete for funding with a host of other NGOs, wrote Postimees.
Examples of such foundations are the ruling Reform Party's Liberal Academy and IRL's Jaan Tõnisson Institute. Direct participation in government or campaigning for elections is not allowed to these organizations.
According to Rait Maruste, Reform Party MP and initiator of the amendment, specific sums have not been discussed, however, all parties in Parliament would receive an equal amount from the national budget for financing their affiliate foundations.
Only the affiliates of the political parties represented in Parliament would be eligible for such funding under the current amendment, said Maruste.
Ingrid Teesalu