Home > 1.3.1.1 Media > ALBANIA- Joint Opinion on the Electoral Code
 
 
 
Download file    
 
 
Paragraph 35
 

Conversely, when it comes to news coverage of non-parliamentary parties, Article 81(4) allows the application of “professional criteria for news”, but only if such professional criteria do not result in airtime “greater than the time applied for parliamentary parties.”  This is of concern since citizens should have a right to receive news and information.  Article 81(4) also is of concern since a state should not itself determine media content or exercise political authority or influence to determine media content.[18]  Newsworthiness should be determined by professional standards and not based on the degree of political authority or influence a particular political party holds.  The Venice Commission and the OSCE/ODIHR recommend that Article 81 be amended to delete the provision that limits professional news coverage of non-parliamentary parties if such coverage exceeds the news coverage of parliamentary parties.