Rights and obligations of electoral competitors/participants in the referendum

(1) The electoral competitors/participants in the referendum shall participate, on a basis of equality in the electoral campaign, enjoy equal rights in the use of Media, under the conditions laid down in Chapter XII.

(2) Candidates, except for the cases provided for in Article 16 (3), shall be entitled, during the electoral campaign, to be suspended from their duties held under the terms of labour law and/or other laws governing their activity. During the electoral period, candidates may not be dismissed or transferred to any other job or position without their consent.

(3) The electoral competitor may withdraw its candidature by written request to the electoral body which registered it, but no later than 10 days before Elections Days. In the case of candidates appointed by political parties and electoral blocs of parties, the requests for withdrawal from the race shall be submitted to the electoral body within the same time limit, by concerned political parties and electoral blocs of parties.

(4) After the expiry of the deadline referred to in paragraph (3), registration of an electoral competitor may be cancelled by the electoral body which has registered it under the Court decision, in the event of his/her death or the fulfilment of the conditions laid down in Article 16 (2) and 102 (5). If the electoral competitor withdraws his/her candidature or the registration is being cancelled after ballot papers are being printed, the Precinct Electoral Bureau shall apply the stamp marked “withdrawn” in the ballot paper.

(5) Political parties and electoral blocs of parties shall make changes to the registered lists, under the conditions and deadlines laid down in Article 68 (3), Articles 111, 115 and 163.