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Article 51
 

Guaranteed Rights of Candidates


(1) The candidates shall participate in the electoral campaign on an equal basis and shall have equal access to Media, including radio and television, financed from the state budget.


(2) All candidates shall be granted equal opportunities in terms of technical and material support and funding of the electoral campaign.


(3) Candidates shall be entitled for unpaid detachment from their full-time job during the electoral campaign.


(4) During the electoral period, candidates may not be dismissed or transferred to another job or position without their consent. Candidates cannot be held criminally liable, arrested, detained or subjected to any administrative sanctions without the consent of the election body, which registered them, except for flagrant offenses.


(5) No later than 7 days prior to the Election Day, a candidate may withdraw his/her candidacy by sending a written declaration to the election body which registered his/her candidacy. Political parties, socio-political organisations and electoral blocs may operate amendments in the registered lists of candidates subject to the above specified timeframe and to the provisions of Articles 87 and 137. After the expire of the above mentioned timeframe, the registration of an electoral competitor can be cancelled only by the election body that registered him/her on the basis of a Court decision, as well as in case of candidate’s death or under the circumstances outlined in Article 13(2).


(6) A candidate’s application to withdraw his/her candidacy from the list submitted within the term established by paragraph (5) shall be considered by the party empowered body within 3 days.


(7) If an electoral competitor withdraws its candidacy or its registration is cancelled after the ballot papers were printed, the Precinct Electoral Bureau shall affix the stamp “Withdrawn” next to its name on the ballot paper.


(8) The electoral competitor who has withdrawn its candidacy is required to return the material and financial assistance which it received from the state budget to conduct the electoral campaign.