The alarm bells regarding the spending of certain candidates and the loopholes that leave 69–77% of spending unchecked

There may be a cap on how much a candidate for parliament can spend on their election campaign, but a loophole in the law, financial means, or even the desperate need to get elected, have led many to exceed €100,000 in expenses. By July 25, candidates must submit their expense reports to the Election Organizing Committees (EOA); from there, they will be sent to the Central Election Service and the Election Commissioner, and then, they will be sent to the Audit Office for review. “Alpha on Sunday” contacted the relevant authorities, and particular concern was expressed regarding the potential expenses of specific candidates, both from those elected and from candidates who failed to secure a seat. In fact, as we were told, the candidates raising doubts about large amounts of spending are from Nicosia and Limassol.

The loophole in the law

By law, the spending limit for parliamentary candidates is €25,000, plus an additional €5,000 for personal expenses. These are the expenses audited by the Audit Office. Of course, these expenses and the Audit Office’s authority to audit them apply only to the three months preceding the election, and there is no authority to audit prior expenditures. This fact leads many candidates to finalize their agreements much earlier.

At the same time, the agency has the authority to audit only “advertising expenses” related to the media, billboards, and social media. Consequently, no one audits expenses related to events, rallies, “reception tables,” consulting services, associates, etc. In other words, according to the Audit Office, 69–77% of the expenses are excluded.

The Total Amount and Expense Categories

“Alpha on Sunday” attempts to present the expense categories as well as the range of amounts that someone is required to pay for their election campaign. To get a clear picture of the election campaign and its costs, companies were surveyed, a study was conducted on the price lists of businesses that collaborated with candidates, and candidates who ran in the election were interviewed.

Social Media Management

Regarding social media management (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Google Ads), most companies charged between €1,500 and €2,000 per month, depending on the package selected and the duration of the contract. If the election was approaching, the amount would increase and could reach €2,500, while in very specific cases it reached €3,000. At the same time, costs also rose due to paid online ads.

Billboards

Street billboards were in the highest demand during the election campaign. Prices ranged from €700 to €3,500. This, of course, depended on the location and size of each billboard. Printing costs ranged from €130 for the smallest sign to around €1,000–€1,200 for the largest.

Advisors and Staff

Most candidates employed one staff member, and those who were elected have retained that person as a parliamentary aide to this day. Most staff members were hired under 6-month contracts to carry out the campaign. During our investigation, we identified staff members who, while performing pre-election duties, were employed by other companies so that the expenses for their salaries would not have to be reported. The monthly salary of these associates was approximately €1,500–€1,700.

Receptions and Events

The costs associated with events and “banquets” for relatives, friends, and acquaintances are by no means negligible. The expenses here include renting the venue and arranging for food.

Campaigns by Size and Company

Many members of parliament have chosen a specific company to run their campaign. Others signed up for campaign packages but left certain tasks to handle themselves, while only a few ran their campaigns entirely on their own and at a low cost. On average, based on the survey we conducted, the scope included: