On Thursday, 29 November, the Saeima adopted in the final reading a new Law on Election Campaigning which incorporates procedures that until now were set forth in several different laws; the new Law also establishes the procedure for campaigning before the Saeima, the European Parliament and local government elections and supervision thereof.

The Law prohibits campaigning on television for a period of 30 days before elections. This restriction does not apply to commercials informing the voters on opportunities to meet with candidates, nor does it apply to free airtime on the first channel of the public television and first channel of the public radio. Political parties will continue to be granted five minutes of free airtime on four occasions 25 days prior to elections. Thus each candidate list will have equal access to free airtime.

In addition to the free airtime, each candidate list will have a chance to participate in producing election programmes broadcast by electronic media or commercial TV channels. Funding for these programmes will be allocated by the National Electronic Mass Media Council as a part of public service remit.

The new Law clarifies the concept of public and outdoor places; it also specifies what activities can be performed at these places before elections. Campaigners will be allowed to approach voters, distribute pamphlets, newspapers and other campaign materials in squares, parks, streets, roads and bridges, tunnels and other similar places without special permission by the local government or the owner of the place outside the premises.

However, written permission of the owner of relevant premises will be needed if a campaigner intends to address voters and distribute election materials inside the premises.

A campaigner will still be required to inform the relevant local government in writing of his/her intentions to use a place outside premises or a public place for setting up tables, tents and portable awnings. One hundred and twenty days before elections, local governments will be entitled to determine places where such activities will be prohibited.

In order to prevent the abuse of administrative resources in election campaigning, for a period of 30 days prior to elections state and local government publications, as well as publications of capital companies, will not be permitted to print interviews with or articles about candidates or persons associated with political parties nor to contain campaign materials.

Furthermore, the new Law prohibits paid advertising of public institutions, and state or municipal capital companies for a period of 30 days prior to elections if the content of an advertisement or commercial refers to a candidate for the office of prime minister or a minister nominated by another candidate, political party, alliance of political parties or institution which governs them. The same prohibition will apply to publicising the activities of individuals associated with political parties or party alliances.

Use of administrative resources will be monitored by the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau, and the Law will prescribe liability for breaching the set restrictions. The public official held liable for abuse of administrative resources will have to pay for all losses in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Law.

The new procedure of campaigning before the Saeima, the European Parliament and local government elections will ensure equal election campaigning conditions for all candidates and will prevent the abuse of administrative resources.

The new procedure of election campaigning will take effect on 1 January 2013.  



Saeima Press Service