Political parties and their financing

Political parties are the main cause of the collapse in the fundamental values ushered in by the Velvet Revolution, according to Chief Justice Pavel Rychetský of the Constitutional Court. He told HN that they are "exclusive, hermetically sealed clubs," which see their role not in cultivating political culture and democratic principles, but rather as a means to achieving personal power and influence. Two key laws now under debate (not mentioned by Rychetský) can help or hinder this situation. First, the campaign-financing law would set limits on personal and corporate donations and is aimed squarely at Andrej Babiš. Second, a new public-procurement law would raise the maxi- mum level of extra work without a new tender and is ČSSD's preferred method of securing party finances. A compromise might be taking shape: ANO is also beginning to understand the vast opportunities presented to political parties by public procurement.