News broadcasts of the public radio and television

(amended by Law No. 74/2012, dated 19 July 2012)

1. During the political airtime of news broadcasts, the public radio and television shall be obliged to apply an equal time ratio to all parliamentary parties that, in the last elections to the Assembly, have obtained up to 20 percent of the seats in the Assembly. The parties that have obtained more than 20 percent of the seats in the Assembly, shall benefit airtime that is allocated equally among them. Each of these parties shall benefit double the amount of airtime of a party that has obtained up to 20 percent of the seats in the Assembly.

2. In the event of violation of the ratio of coverage in favour of one party or coalition, the Central Election Commission shall order the reduction by the same airtime at the disposal of that political party or coalition, or the compensation of other political parties or coalitions with additional airtime within 48 hours.

3. The broadcasting of activities of central or local public institutions shall be calculated as part of the airtime of the electoral subject that the head of the institution adheres to, when the activity is for electoral purposes. An activity shall be considered to be for electoral purposes when it promotes the institutional achievements, investments, inaugurations or the progress in public works or when it promotes specific aspects of the electoral programme of the electoral subject.

4. To cover activities of the non-parliamentary parties, the public radio and television shall apply the professional news criteria. The allocated airtime may not be higher than the airtime allocated to parliamentary parties which have obtained no less than 20 percent of the seats in the Assembly.

5. Propaganda, political comments, or political stances by journalists of the public radio and television shall be prohibited during the news programmes.

6. In case of violation of the requirements specified in this Article, the CEC, depending on the case and the level of responsibility, shall fine the journalist who has prepared the report with ALL 20,000, the editor responsible with ALL 30,000, the news director with ALL 35,000 and the general director with ALL 60,000.

7. The CEC decision shall constitute an executive title and shall be implemented by the finance directorate of the public radio and television. A complaint against the decision shall not suspend its execution.