An important finding of the monitoring is that political parties have apparently taken responsibility, as several parties have submitted to the CEC financial reports for 2024 – 95% (compared to 75% for 2023). However, although the number of reports submitted has increased, their quality remains questionable. Thus, we find that some parties, especially BP Victorie and its constituents (FASM, PR, PPV and ŞANSĂ), with costly political activities, reported “zero” income and expenses.

The report also shows that the electronic reporting module SSI “Financial Control” continued to function with deficiencies, which led to the extension of reporting deadlines. In this context, Promo-LEX recommends that the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) consider a possible rewrite of the entire reporting module.

The main source of party income remains state budget allocations, which in 2024 constituted 75% of total reported income (2023: 84%). In contrast, income from donations increased significantly, reaching 13.5 million lei – three times more than in 2023. The most donations were received by PAS (35%), PN (27%) and PSRM (18%).

On the other hand, membership fees have decreased, being collected by only 17 parties, and in the case of 11 of them, not even the leaders of the parties have paid their contributions. The monitoring also highlighted the fact that the number of members declared by the parties is still decreasing. Only three parties (PAS, PSRM and PL) reported over 10,000 members, and 28% of the parties declared under 1,000 members, the minimum legal threshold for registration.

In this context, Promo-LEX recommends that Parliament identify a solution that ensures a balance between political financing from public and private sources. At the same time, recommendations were formulated for parties, including: active involvement of members by collecting dues and diversifying funding sources, in order to reduce dependence on public funds .

In terms of expenses, 39 parties declared 71 million lei, with the most reported by PAS (47%), PSRM (17%) and PN (11%).

Promo-LEX estimated unreported expenditures of at least 20 million lei for 20 political parties, which represents 28% of the 71 million officially reported. The most unreported expenditures were estimated for BP Victorie (81%), followed by PSRM (8%), and PN, PAS, PSDE and PPVM at 2% each. The most common types of unreported expenditures concerned advertising on social networks (37%), political events (21%) and headquarters (12%).

The Promo-LEX report also highlights the multiple legislative amendments made recently or during 2024, targeting the activity and financing of political parties, including: the regulation of political blocs, the ban on successor parties, tougher sanctions for voter corruption and illegal financing, as well as the ban on promoting political leaders through philanthropic activities. Failure to comply with the new legal provisions may lead to the limitation of the party’s activity or the ban on participation in elections. However, the legislation still does not include rules on political and electoral financing by third parties, although this has been recommended by international institutions and national observers.

During the period under review, the CEC sanctioned several parties and donors, initiating 33 contravention proceedings for non-compliant financial reporting and notifying the Court of Accounts for verifications. The Ministry of Justice was notified in the case of eight parties, and the activity of six of them was limited. In the case of five other political parties, the CEC requested their dissolution. Also during the monitored period, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office prosecuted 12 criminal cases, and in March 2025, two deputies and a close associate of them were convicted for illegal financing and violation of the way in which the parties’ financial resources were managed, who are now being prosecuted.