《TAIPEI TIMES 焦點》 Ministry outlines statutes governing political donations

By Lee Hsin-fang and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writer

Candidates seeking seats in the combined legislative and presidential elections set for January next year are legally eligible to open accounts to accept political donations after applying for Control Yuan approval.

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Deputy Minister of the Interior Jonathan Chen （陳敬純） said applicants should be aware of the donation cap in the Political Donations Act （政治獻金法）.

According to the act, any single donation per person to the same candidate must not exceed NT$100,000 （US$3,195） per year, while individual donations to multiple candidates may not exceed NT$200,000 per year.

There have been some calls from the public to amend the act to raise the total amount of donations per individual per year for different candidates due to the numerous kinds of elections, as well as the number of people who are eligible for donations.

The ministry has requested amendments that would raise the cap to NT$300,000 for multiple candidates, Department of Civil Affairs Deputy Director Lin Ching-chi （林清淇） said, adding that a draft amendment is awaiting review in the Legislative Yuan after its first reading at the end of last year.

The ministry wishes to maintain current rules for donations from individuals to a single candidate, Lin said.

“We hope that all candidates keep in mind that certain businesses and groups are not allowed to make political donations: Those without the right to vote; companies or factories with large government contracts or sales; indebted firms that have yet to pay said debt; and citizens of Hong Kong, Macau, China or other foreign citizens, legal persons and groups,” Chen said.

Businesses donating to a single candidate may not exceed NT$1 million per year, while civic groups may not exceed NT$500,000, Chen said, adding that total donations from businesses to multiple candidates must not exceed NT$2 million and civic groups may not exceed NT$1 million.

Anonymous donations cannot exceed NT$10,000, Chen said, adding that political donations for presidential and vice presidential candidates must wait until May 20.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES