(1) A national minority candidate may win a mandate under preferential conditions from a multi-member list in a general local government election or in a by-election for electing the entire representative body, provided that at the time when the date for the election was set, at least fifty per cent of the voters recorded in the electoral register were also recorded in the national minority electoral register for the national minority concerned.

(2) If none of the candidates of the national minority concerned wins a mandate either in the mayoral election or from the multi-member list, the number representing two thirds of the valid votes cast for the candidate who won a mandate from the multi-member list with the least votes shall be determined. The candidate of the national minority who receives more votes than the number of votes determined using this method shall receive a preferential mandate. If a national minority has multiple candidates meeting this condition, the national minority candidate with the most votes shall win the preferential mandate; in case of a tied vote, the allocation of the mandate shall be determined by drawing lots.

(3) The number of members of the representative body determined under section 4 shall increase by the preferential mandate allocated using the method under paragraph (2).

(4) If the mandate of a representative who won a preferential mandate terminates, his place shall be taken by the candidate of the same national minority with the next highest number of votes, provided that this candidate also received at least the number of votes determined using the method under paragraph (2).

(5) If a vacancy is filled under section 21 (1), and the candidate with the next highest number of votes is a representative who won a preferential mandate, then he shall keep the mandate allocated to him under section 21 (1), and the preferential mandate of the national minority concerned terminates.

(6) If a candidate of the same national minority wins a mandate as a mayor or from a multi-member list in a by-election, the preferential mandate shall terminate.