Reforms aim to boost political transparency in Chile

Subject

Campaign finance and political parties.

Significance

On January 27, Congress approved new regulation of election campaign financing and political parties. The two new laws follow a series of revelations of questionable and, in some cases, illegal practices that highlighted the fragility of regulation of the relationship between money and politics.

Impacts

• Local government elections in October will provide an early test of the new regulation's effectiveness.
• The new law promises, at least in theory, a chance to boost women's political participation.
• Companies have until now been essential in funding election campaigns, and these are likely to become far more austere.