Jean-Philippe Vachia, president of the Commission nationale des comptes de campagne et des financements politiques (CNCCFP) in Paris, discussed the challenges posed by the unprecedented 21-day timeframe for organizing the legislative campaign under the Fifth Republic. In an interview with Le Monde, Vachia highlighted the financial difficulties faced by political parties, candidates, and institutions due to the shortened campaign period. One of the main concerns raised by Vachia was the potential increase in loans taken by parties or candidates from wealthy individuals, with no guarantee regarding the origin of the funds.
With the upcoming task of monitoring the accounts of 4,000 candidates in the anticipated legislative elections, in addition to those from the European elections, the CNCCFP is faced with the challenge of managing the process effectively. Vachia emphasized the need to reinforce the staff in order to handle the increased workload, having already requested additional resources from the Ministry of the Interior. This includes hiring more staff members for a temporary period and compensating the rapporteurs responsible for examining the accounts, as the control process will have to be conducted using paper documents due to the lack of time for digital filing regulations.
Given the reduced campaign duration, candidates are expected to cut back on expenses such as meetings and travel, but there is still a need to finance essential campaign costs. The tight timeframe for finding a campaign treasurer, opening a bank account, and managing finances poses significant challenges for candidates. Vachia expressed concerns regarding the ability of candidates to secure funding, particularly considering that not all major banks are involved in political financing and those that are must act swiftly within a short timeframe.
Candidates have three main sources of financing at their disposal: personal contributions, donations from individuals (up to 4,600 euros per person), and financial aid from their political party. Personal contributions, largely funded through loans, are a significant focus as candidates can be reimbursed by the State up to 47.5% of the legal limit, which can amount to as much as 30,000 euros. Vachia stressed the importance of managing financial resources effectively to ensure sound accountability and transparency in campaign financing.
In conclusion, Vachia emphasized the importance of securing the necessary resources and personnel to effectively carry out the monitoring and control of accounts for the upcoming legislative elections. The challenging time constraints and financial pressures faced by candidates and parties require careful planning and management to ensure compliance with electoral and financial regulations. With the support of the Ministry of the Interior and available funding, the CNCCFP aims to address the complexities of the shortened campaign period and uphold transparency and integrity in the electoral process.
