Abstract Outlý

Have We Seen Better Times or How Rich Are Czech Political Parties?

Jan Outlý

Abstract: Funding of political parties is an extremely signifi cant element in democracy. Parties are in need of money and it is important where it comes from. Transparency should lead to easier control and should relieve political parties of fixed private resources and of reciprocal commitments to the donor. This study analyses a specific aspect of political party funding in the Czech Republic. It can be argued that the issue of transparency and general establishment of rules of funding have not been fully resolved, which is to a great extent valid for all of Central and Eastern Europe.

Keywords: Democracy, Funding of political parties, Czech Republic