Financing of Political Campaigns and Political Parties: Transparency of Presidential Election Campaign in the Czech Republic in 2012/2013

The article addresses the issue of financing of political parties and campaigns in the broader context of transparency and accountability in the Czech Republic. The Czech regulation of political parties is highly insufficient and is broadly criticized by the international community as well as domestic watchdog organizations; there is a complete absence of regulation of political campaigns. If there is any more thorough regulatory framework, in the case of the rules for the presidential campaign, the practical experience is rather mixed or clearly negative. The mixture of vague arrangements, legislative loopholes and poor enforcement do not meet basic principles of democratic transparency and accountability.