No fines, just admonishment for misbehaving broadcasters

The Broadcasting Coordination Council (BCC) will not fine the broadcasters which were denounced by some electoral competitors for breaches, but will only “advise them to be more careful” when making statements of electoral nature in their broadcasts. A decision to this effect was adopted by the BCC at its meeting on Saturday, February 21, Info-Prim Neo reports. The BCC received a number of complaints from the Moldova Noastra Alliance (AMN), which reported that the newscasts produced by the channels NIT and N4 contained materials laudatory of President Vladimir Voronin, Economy Minister Igor Dodon, and Parliament Speaker Marian Lupu, all of them being MP candidates on the list of the Communists Party. In another complaint lodged by AMN, Eu TV channel is reproached for making “unsubstantiated accusations against the members of the faction, which harm the image of the party”. AMN demanded that the licenses held by these channels be suspended during the election campaign. At the same time, the Christian Democratic People's Party (PPCD), which is believed to have strong connections with Eu TV, complained to the BCC that it discovered electoral breaches in a newscast aired by Pro TV on February 13. The BCC observed that some of the mentioned broadcasts had been aired before the formal start of the election campaign. “We don't interfere in the editorial policies of the stations. If some electoral competitors think their rights have been violated, they are free to seek justice in court”, said BCC chairman Gheorghe Gorincioi. “It is perfectly legal to praise or criticize anyone”, he declared, adding however that the broadcasters ought to grant the right of reply to those who think they were hurt. CEC secretary Iurie Ciocan endorsed Gorincoi, but partly, saying that “any person is free to advocate for or against a candidate”, as long as it occurs outside of the newscast. Attending the meeting, Eu TV director Viorel Buzdugan placed all the responsibility for the vitriolic remarks on the authors of the shows, whose opinions “don't necessarily coincide with those of the editorial staff”. “We do observe the rules concerning newscasts and electoral publicity,” he added. At the same time, the BCC remarked that the broadcasters in question did commit “minor abuses”, but explained that the complaints “are not official documents”, because they were not signed by authorized persons and, hence, the BCC “is not obliged to consider them”. Therefore, the channels in question will be informed of the admonishment through a press release, and the complainants will be answered in writing. However, BCC member Ludmila Vasilache expressed her concern about the situation. “We are not blind. It seems to me that we look for excuses for the broadcasters”.