site.btaJune 9 2024 Elections: More Candidates, Less Campaign Funding

During the general elections held on June 9 2024, there were more candidates for Parliament and less money was spent on financing election campaigns, compared with the April 2 2023 elections, according to a National Audit Office report, published on Wednesday.

The total campaign financing of all 31 contestants in the June 9, 2024 election was BGN 6,967,862. A year and two months earlier, a total of 23 parties, coalitions and initiative committees participated in the race for MPs, spending BGN 7,355,607. The parties' campaign funds decreased by BGN 387,745, but the number of participants increased by eight.

Since the elections on 9 June 2024, the National Audit Office has audited 24 participants - 14 political parties and 10 coalitions of parties. The total amount of funding of the audited participants is nearly BGN 6.7 million. Seven unaudited participants - 6 political parties and one coalition of parties - had BGN 280,309 at their disposal.

The National Audit Office audited compliance of declared revenues and incurred expenses in connection with the electoral campaign of the participants in the June 9 2024 general elections. The report is published on the website of the audit institution.

Out of the total amount of revenues of BGN 6.6 million, BGN 2.6 million were for the parties and nearly BGN 4 million for coalitions. Sixteen of the audited participants reported funds for media packages totalling BGN 564,862 (according to information from the Central Election Commission). The parties' revenues were formed from their own funds - BGN 1.8 million, donations from individuals - BGN 305,852, funds provided by candidates - BGN 181,988, funds for media packages under Article 178 of the Election Code - BGN 324,780. The coalitions received own revenues in the amount of BGN 2.7 million, donations - BGN 204,594, funding from candidates - BGN 811,986, funds for media packages under Article 178 of the Election Code - BGN 240,082.

The audit found that the candidates received a total of 361 donations from individuals and funding from candidates in excess of the minimum wage (for the audited period it was BGN 933), for which all donors/candidates submitted declarations of origin.

The expenditure made by the audited election participants totalled BGN 5.4 million, with parties spending BGN 2.6 million and coalitions BGN 2.8 million.

The largest share in the total amount of expenditures is accounted for by payments for external services - BGN 4.7 million (88%), with nearly BGN 3 million for media services, BGN 21,909 for consultancy services, BGN 763,215 for posters, flyers, leaflets, brochures, BGN 74,037 for mass events (public meetings, concerts, etc.).

A total of 126 political parties submitted their annual financial statements and lists of donors for 2024 to the National Audit Office, complying with the statutory deadline.