Home > 1.3.1.1 Media > MOLDOVA - Electoral Code 2016 and 2017 Law for Amending and Completing Certain Legislative Acts (Electoral System for the Election of Parliament)
 
 
 
Download file    
 
 
Article 64
 

Particularities of media coverage of elections


(1) During the electoral period, the talk-shows and written materials referring in any way to the candidate(s) will be broadcast/published by observing the Regulation on the Media Coverage of the Election Campaign, approved by the Central Electoral Commission within the first 7 days of electoral period. Mass-media representatives enjoy the same rights as the national observers.


(2) Within the first 7 days as of the approval of the Regulation on Media Coverage of Electoral Campaign, each broadcaster submits to the Coordinating Council of Audiovisual a statement containing: the name of the owner/owners of the institution and its editorial policy for the electoral campaign. The statements are posted on the web site of the Coordinating Council of Audiovisual. The control over the observance of this obligation is ex officio conducted by the Coordinating Council of Audiovisual, according to the provision of the Audiovisual Code of Moldova.


(3) During the electoral campaign for parliamentary elections, presidential elections and republican referenda, national broadcasters are obliged, whereas the local/regional ones are entitled, to organise public debates. During the electoral campaign for general local elections and local referenda, local/regional broadcasters are obliged, whereas the national ones are entitled, to organise electoral debates. The format, length and the frequency of electoral debates are established by the broadcasters and are made known to the electoral bodies and to the candidates at least 3 calendar days before the broadcast of each talk-show.


(4) During the electoral campaign for parliamentary elections, presidential elections and republican referenda, national broadcasters, whose list is made public by the Coordinating Council of Audiovisual, within the first 3 days of the electoral period, freely grant to the candidates 5 minutes of TV airtime and 10 minutes of radio airtime to present their electoral programmes and to inform voters. The respective airtime is granted apart from the airspace allotted for electoral advertising and debates.


(5) In parliamentary elections, presidential elections and republican referenda, public broadcasters will allot to candidates one minute per day free airtime to place their electoral advertising. Concerning paid electoral advertising, each candidate is granted airtime, which shall not exceed 2 minutes per day during the electoral campaign for each broadcast outlet. The terms for buying airtime and the respective fees are made known 3 calendar days before airing electoral advertising. The cost of the airtime granted to the candidates will not exceed the usual cost for commercial advertising. Airtime for paid electoral advertising is granted to all the candidates at the same broadcasting hours.


(6) Each candidate is liable for the content of broadcast or published electoral advertising materials. Each electoral advertising material will include the name of the candidate, the date of its publication, its circulation and the name of the Printing House. Paid electoral advertising will be accompanied by the logo “Election”.


(7) Under the current law, the refusal to broadcast or print free or paid electoral advertising may be appealed in a court of law.


(8) Electoral advertising via internet and mobile telephones is categorized as electoral advertising in written media.


(9) On Election Day, prior to the closing of polling stations, the media shall not make public the results of the voters’ surveys on their electoral choices.


(10) During the electoral period, any opinion polls on the voters’ political preferences shall be conducted only if the Central Electoral Commission has been notified about this in advance. The results of these polls shall be made public no later than 5 days before the Election Day. On Election Day, prior to the closing of all polling stations, the media shall not make public materials such as: interviews with voters, the number of votes received by candidates during the day, and their chances of winning, including the results of exit polls.


(11) At the request of the Central Electoral Commission, media outlets established by public authorities will publish free of charge, and the broadcasters will air, social, civic and electoral education video clips; and will carry out information campaigns for voters regarding the voting procedure and other voting issues.


(12) Once every two weeks, the Coordinating Council of Audiovisual must submit to the Central Electoral Commission monitoring reports addressing how national broadcasters have covered the electoral campaign. Monitoring reports must include information on the observance of legal requirements while covering elections within all talk-shows. Two days prior to elections, the Coordinating Council of Audiovisual will submit a nal, summary report to the Central Electoral Commission.