The political sphere fuels an increase in the number of cases of public manifestation of intolerance, while the electoral processes continue to represent an additional factor that amplifies political rivalries, media presence and interaction with voters. Promo-LEX Association expert Irina Korobchenko said the resonance of hate speech in 2021 shows that this type of speech continues to be seen by a large public and can affect many persons. Hate speech generated by politicians generates victims among opponents whose image is harmed, IPN reports.
“Even if hate speech is constantly present in election campaigns, it remains unregulated and unpunished. The legal framework remains defective, while the mechanisms for fighting this phenomenon are absent,” the expert stated in a post-electoral conference titled Promo-LEX Observation Mission’s conclusions and recommendations about snap parliamentary elections of July 11, 2021”.
In the electoral period, there were identified 390 cases of hate speech and instigation of discrimination, 299 of which occurred in an electoral context. Irina Korobchenko said there were cases of amplification of a feeling of fear towards particular social groups, such as migrants, representatives of some of the nationalities, minorities, etc.
Compared with the presidential elections of 2020, the number of cases of hater speech decreased, from a total of 448 cases to 3.9 cases a day or by 1 case a day fewer than in the previous (presidential) elections. Promo-LEX revealed 159 cases of hate speech in social media and 36 cases in TV programs. The 299 cases of hate speech and instigation of discrimination were seen 13 167 184 times and were redistributed 455 252 times. The Central Election Commission transmitted two notices of Promo-LEX observers to the Equality Council.
