New law on the funding of Greek political parties

23.4.2014

Question for written answer E-005219-14
to the Commission
Rule 117
Theodoros Skylakakis (ALDE)

New Democracy’s balance sheets for 2013 shows that in 2013 this party — whose President is the current Prime Minister of Greece, Mr Samaras — received new loans of EUR 14 million; this means that it now has loans totalling EUR 160 million. 2014 is an election year for the European Parliament, and these elections will determine — among other things — the composition of the next Commission.

In view of the above, will the Commission say:

Is there any truth in Greek press reports that the Troika is demanding a new law on the funding of Greek political parties immediately after the European elections? In practice, this will mean that the opposition parties will have received no funding since the beginning of the year; however, it will not affect the two government parties, since the funds for the governing parties are seized in advance by the lending banks These parties (at least New Democracy) were, however, being financed until 2013 with loans from the largely nationalised banks, loans which they will never repay. The loans were issued despite the specific assurances by the Commission that this would not happen.

Does the Commission consider that the fundamental rules of democracy are being respected in the European elections, since a regime of provocative and absolute inequality of economic resources between the political forces involved in the elections is skilfully being created for the benefit of the government parties?

OJ C 426, 27/11/2014