Tallinn Administrative Court Annuls PFRCC Orders on SALK Donation Returns

Tallinn Administrative Court has annulled orders issued by the Party Finance Supervision Commission (PFRCC) that required four Estonian parties to return donations from the Foundation Liberal Citizen (SALK). The ruling affects the Reform Party, Party of Estonia 200, Centre Party, and Social Democratic Party.

Tallinn Administrative Court has annulled orders issued by the Party Finance Supervision Commission (PFRCC), whereby the commission demanded that four Estonian parties return prohibited donations to the Foundation Liberal Citizen (SALK).

According to the court's ruling, the Reform Party, Party of Estonia 200, Centre Party, and Social Democratic Party are not required to return donations received from SALK. The PFRCC had previously determined that these donations were prohibited under the Political Parties Financing Act and ordered the parties to repay them.

The PFRCC orders were one of the most significant party finance supervision cases in recent years, as they affected multiple major parliamentary parties simultaneously. The Foundation SALK has been in public scrutiny due to questions about whether donations made through it comply with the requirements of the Political Parties Financing Act.

The Tallinn Administrative Court's ruling means that the PFRCC's previous interpretation of the prohibition on such donations did not find confirmation in court. Whether the PFRCC will decide to appeal the court decision remains unclear.