Restrictions proposed for electoral ads
- 02.10.2012 14:18
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Beginning with the next elections, electoral ads will be allowed only for broadcasters involved in covering the elections, in particular by organizing debates and airing reports on elections. This will come into effect if the Parliament approves the proposed amendments to the Electoral Code. The initiative comes from executive director of the Electronic Press Association (APEL) Ion Bunduchi and jurist Eugeniu Ribca, Info-Prim Neo reports.
Eugeniu Ribca stated onTuesday during public discussions organized by the Center for Independent Journalism that during previous elections some mass media sources only obtained income from broadcasting electoral ads, neglecting their duty to inform the people. According to experts, most voters choose their electoral option as a result of what they see on TV or hear on radio.
The jurist added that another problem concerning electoral ads is related to the fees charged by broadcasters. The authors of proposed amendments want the TV and radio stations to be obliged to notify the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) about the fees they charge for a minute of advertisement and CEC to publish them on its official site.
Another change regards the broadcasting time. Eugeniu Ribca said that according to the current rules electoral candidates, either independent, parties or blocs, are offered free broadcasting time in equal conditions. After the amendments to the Electoral Code come into effect, independent candidates will get 5 minutes on TV and 10 on radio, extra-parliamentary parties will get 10 minutes on TV and 20 on radio, parliamentary parties 20 minutes on TV and 40 on radios, while parliamentary blocs will get 40 minutes on TV and 80 on radio.
Ion Bunduchi siad that the amendments were proposed after a monitoring of the mass media behavior during several elections and of the international practice. “Moldova witnessed several electoral campaigns that proved the provisions of the legal framework weren’t always exact and the mass media didn’t show adequate behavior to inform the citizens correctly. That’s why we had to come up with some amendments”, said the project author.
The event was organized as part of the project “Legislation reform regarding the election coverage by mass media”, developed by the Center for Independent Journalism with the financial support of the Embassy of Netherlands in Kiev.
