Home > 1.3.1.1.2 Accessibility to the media by participants in the election > Report on Electoral Law and Electoral Administration in Europe
 
 
 
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Paragraph 167
 

While it is commonly agreed that parties and candidates should have direct access to public broadcast media, there is some debate as to whether also private broadcasters can be obliged to include (free and/or paid) political campaigning by all electoral contestants. The Code of Good Practice in Electoral Matters emphasised that, in conformity with freedom of expression, legal provisions should be established to ensure that there is a minimum access to privately owned audiovisual media with regard to the election campaign and to advertising for all participants in elections (CDL-AD(2002)23rev2-cor, part I. 2.3c). In fact, private broadcasters are sometimes asked to meet such obligations. However, in several countries, legislation provides no or only general provisions concerning non-discrimination in the advertising practices of private media (e.g. Andorra).