Legal Regulation of Funding of Political Parties and Political Campaigns in Lithuania

The institute of funding of political parties and political campaigns, as well as in its context – the certain questions of the dissemination of political advertising, are examined in this doctoral dissertation. Employing traditional methods of jurisprudence and fragmentary some non-legal scientific methods the research is being conducted in the context of the Lithuanian public law and partially in the interdisciplinary context. Some aspects are analysed in regard to foreign countries (international legal regulation) and their judicial practice. It should be noted that this doctoral thesis deals not only with “purely” legal aspects of funding of political parties and political campaigns but also covers such relevant questions as the reasons why in general the financial sources are needed for political parties, the historical dynamics of this need, the possible sources and modes for income of political parties. Moreover, with regard to the mentioned, the doctoral thesis examines the regimes of funding of political parties that can be established by the state and the impact that organisational changes within political parties, technological progress and economic laws expansion into political market have on the volume and structure of funding of political parties and political campaigns. The doctoral dissertation is finalized with resumptive conclusions, which evidence that Lithuanian legislation concerning the funding of political parties and political campaigns (in its context – the dissemination of politic advertising) is obviously in some aspects not comprehensive, contradictory or even excessive. Even though it could function unaltered (the way it is), considering the emergence of ambiguity in the course of its observance, interpretation and application, as well as the experience of certain foreign countries in this sphere, the regulation is assessed as partially insufficient and therefore subject to amendments. The revision of entire legal regulation is not required, it suffices to make partial changes related to the most problematic aspects