Left and right squabble over party funding

A Venstre MP says that Enhedslisten’s demand for greater transparency of party funding is “disgusting” and an attempt to “register people you don’t like”

Far-left party Enhedslisten's (EL) calls for greater transparency of political donations is being strongly opposed by its political opponents.

The current rules state that if a donor gives more than 20,000 kroner to a party,  their identity has to be publicised, but not the amount given.

EL is concerned, however, by the increasing popularity of a loophole that allows donors to give anonymously through clubs and associations.

Anonymous millions
Donations from these associations have risen markedly from 49 million kroner prior to the 2007 election to 82 million kroner prior to the 2011 election.

EL claims that three-quarters of these anonymous donations went to right-wing parties and that the lack of transparency could be used by people attempting to seek political influence without drawing attention to their motives.

The party is now campaigning to set the limit for anonymous donations at 5,000 kroner, for the sum of these donations to be published, and for associations that raise funds for political parties to publish their member lists.

"Disgusting" proposal
The proposals have been condemned by right-wing parties that argue that there also needs to be greater transparency about the indirect political support that unions provide the left-wing.

Søren Pind, the foreign policy spokesperson for lead opposition party Venstre, took to Twitter to vent his frustration at EL MP Per Clausen.

Pind argued that if the member list of fundraising clubs are published, then left-wing and communist parties should also publish a list of their members who want to start a revolution.

Twitter feud
Clausen replied that it wasn't the same thing.

“We want to register economic transactions of certain significance, not the political convictions of individuals.”

Pind disagreed: “You want to register people you don’t like. It’s disgusting.”

READ MORE: Party financing rules to be overhauled

Clausen got the last word and accused Pind of avoiding the issue.

"Your well known pathos can't cover that up. If anything it's rather pathetic"

Left-wing revolutionaries
In an interview with Jyllands-Posten newspaper, Pind clarified his position.

“I think the forces in Enhedslisten that want a revolution are a far greater threat to democracy than a few million kroner of support,” adding that the list of EL and Communist Party members would make for interesting reading.

“This is an absurd thought, and of course I don’t mean it. But it’s the consequence of Enhedslisten’s proposal.”

Enhedslisten takes the lead
EL has already taken the initiative and released its list of party donors, and the sum of the donations over 5,000 kroner, prior to the 2011 election.

They are now urging the rest of parliament to follow suit and voluntarily release details about their financial backers ahead of November’s council election.

See the Twitter feud below:

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