WILLEMSTAD – Despite the implementation of the Political Groups Finance National Ordinance in 2010, there continues to be a significant lack of transparency in the financing of political parties in Curaçao. This is the central point of a recent opinion piece by Fundashon Kòrsou Transparente, emphasizing how essential transparency and regulation are in ensuring public trust in politics and democracy.
The Political Groups Finance National Ordinance was intended to promote the integrity of political parties by obliging them to submit annual financial reports and annual reports to the Electoral Council. However, according to a Transparency International report from 2013, there are still gaps and ambiguities in the legal framework that jeopardize the effectiveness of the regulation.
One of the primary points of criticism is the absence of an obligation to disclose financial information. Despite political groups being required to submit financial reports, both the Electoral Council and the Foundation of Government Accountants are bound by confidentiality, making public scrutiny of political financial support impossible.
This shortcoming became evident during the elections on March 19, 2021, revealing that 25 percent of the candidates were in violation of the national ordinance. The fact that this information was not made public highlights the lack of transparency and the need for legislative revision.
Furthermore, in 2014, there was a legislative proposal to enhance transparency, which would have assigned the Main Voting Bureau the responsibility of disclosing received statements and financial reports. However, the status of this proposal remains unknown.
Fundashon Kòrsou Transparente advocates for full transparency of sponsors and donors of political parties. In the interest of democratic trust, it is essential that public resources are not spent on the financiers of political parties, adhering to the principle of 'he who pays the piper calls the tune.' This requires ongoing attention and commitment to promote transparency and integrity in political financing in Curaçao.