25. Is there a ban on candidates taking loans in relation to election campaigns?

Source: Article 83, Electoral code (2018 consolidated text)

1. The election campaign may not be financed from:

   •   funds from the Budget of the Republic of Macedonia, except the funds defined in

     Article 86, paragraph (2) of this Code;

   •   funds from the budget of municipalities and the City of Skopje, except the funds

     defined in Article 86, paragraph (2) of this Code;

   •   funds from public enterprises and public institutions;

   •   funds from citizens' associations, religious communities, religious groups, and

     foundations;

   •   funds from foreign governments, international institutions, bodies and

     organisations of foreign states and other foreign entities;

   •   funds from joint ventures with dominant foreign capital; and

   •   funds from unidentified sources.

2. (2)  The election campaign may be financed from:

   •   the membership fee of the political party;

   •   private persons in the amount of up to 3,000 Euro in MKD equivalent; and

   •   legal entities in the amount of up to 30,000 Euro in MKD equivalent.

3. (3)  The election campaign may also be financed from donations of private persons and legal entities in the form of money and goods and services whose value that may not exceed the amount determined in paragraph (2), indents 2 and 3 of this article.

4. (4)  If the amount of the donation is higher than the amount determined in paragraph (2), indents 2 and 3 of this article, the election campaign participant shall be required to transfer the difference in the permitted and donated amount to the Budget of the Republic of Macedonia, within five days of receiving the donation.

5. (5)  If the origin of the donation cannot be determined, the election campaign participant is required to transfer the donated value to the Budget of the Republic of Macedonia within five days from the receipt of the donation.