The Joint Recommendations also criticised the lack of sufficient information and coverage of the campaign by the media, as resulting from the stipulations of Article 47, which go “a long way to prevent reportages reflecting the meetings of electoral competitors with the voters and similar events for fear of giving an advantage to some competitors.” Moreover, it does not guarantee that the election coverage will be equitable, critical and interesting to voters in the future. During the last parliamentary elections, this issue had been answered by a CEC (late) decision to oblige public broadcasters to organize 90-minute debates every day, including Sundays, and by clarifying that news bulletins of broadcasters covering the campaign shall air five news stories on electoral events in each newscast[24]. A similar norm has been entered as part of the Code, with amendments to Article 64 and is welcomed.
