Reforms and developments…
Yesterday saw developments on several stories previously posted here. (Click on each country in the sidebar for these previous posts.)
Argentina: The lower house (Cámara de Diputados) approved and sent to the Senate the pending reform that raises the spending limit for federal elections from 1 to 1.5 pesos per registered voter. The draft legislation also mandates that parties have a single account (not separate campaign and current accounts) and that party leaders are responsible for campaign expenditures by businesses and publicity agencies (so skirting spending limits is not allowed through “independent” expenditures, to use the US terminology). More at La Nacion.
Nova Scotia: The government introduced to parliament their reform legislation to limit contributions and introduce public funding of political parties, though a member of the Electoral Commission says the Tories should have consulted the Commission, which had its own draft recommendations under way.
United Kingdom: Blair was questioned in the cash-for-honors investigation. “It is thought to be the first time a serving prime minister has been questioned by police conducting a criminal investigation,” writes the BBC.