Political Parties Privatized

AP (Nana)
March 10, 2008

In a controversial and heated debate, Parliament passed by a simple minority the initiative that allows the private sector and individuals to donate money to political parties. With this legislation, the government of Brasxicol also stopped publically funding political parties and this also represented a corporate and individual tax break of 2%. Even with the tax break, the topic polarized not only the political parties but the nation.

Corporations and conservative leaning citizens favoured the passing of the initiative. They see many benefits in wrestling from the government's hands the funding of political parties which gives these parties much more autonomy and accountability. They quietly support the legilsation and corporations specially have begun heavy lobbying practices.

Liberal leaning citizens are outraged by the legislation and strongly protest it specially in Universities. They see the legislation as opening the government up to corruption and inequality and cite numerous cases that have been presented in Brasxicol's Parliament since the adoption of the legislation. They also cite a larger "pro-business" attitude in Parliament that is not attending the social agenda the country need to cut down on crime and poverty.

The Executive Branch today offered hopes for balance citing that indeed the legislation was badly prepared by Parliament as it did not include measures to cap donations and to curve corruption. Lobbying and donation procedure is on the Executive agenda to help balance out the negative effects on this legislation that in principle is still supported by the Executive Branch.

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