The report highlights the persistent high dependence on private resources for electoral financing, a pattern that threatens transparency and democratic quality. This situation is exacerbated by barriers that limit access to state public funding, creating an imbalance where propaganda, especially on social media, dominates expenditures. Opacity in accountability and the difficulty in monitoring these financial flows generate significant risks of state capture and corruption. Furthermore, the study points out the existence of structural disparities that hinder the equitable participation of women and new political leaders. The anticipated increase in the number of candidates for the upcoming elections exacerbates the demand for resources, intensifying the need to review and simplify administrative requirements to access state advances. Without these improvements, candidates will face greater pressures to seek unregulated funding. This issue is crucial for open data because it underscores the urgency of making electoral financing data accessible, standardized, and easy for citizens to audit. Strengthening platforms like Cuentas Claras with better data quality standards enables effective social oversight. Real transparency not only clarifies the relationship between money and politics but also empowers civil society to demand accountability, ensuring that democracy functions without being hijacked by dark economic interests.
Source:Published on 2023-05-24