Romanian Private Radio, TV To Grant Free Airtime To Presidential Candidates

Romanian private television and radio stations are obligated by law to grant free airtime to the candidates in the November presidential election, similar to airtime provided by public radio and TV, according to a Government Emergency Ordinance amending the presidential elections law.

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According to the decision, private radio and television stations are to offer presidential candidates as much airtime as public TV and radio, for free, or they risk sanctions from the country's Audiovisual Council, or CNA.

According to a recently adopted emergency ordinance, opinion polls reagrding elections can be broadcast during the election campaign only under certain conditions and TV and radio stations, both private and public, must not charge presidential candidates for appearances.

Regardless of whether a TV or radio station is public or private, it cannot broadcast opinion polls without mentioning the name of the institution which conducted them, when they were made, their margin of error and the number of respondents, as well as who ordered and paid for the poll.

The government also decided that televoting or street inquiry with electoral character cannot be regarded as representative for the public opinion or for “a certain social or ethnic group”.

Opinion polls may not be broadcast 48 hours before Election Day.

According to the ordinance, presidential candidates are obligated to require management boards of the public radio and television stations for airtime before the start of the electoral campaign, otherwise delayed requests will not be taken into consideration.

The Government Emergency Ordinance stipulates that the National Audiovisual Council sets by decision the rules of the election campaign on the audiovisual programs within ten days since the enforcement of the government decision which sets the date for elections.

The Government approved Wednesday the decision setting the date of presidential elections on November 22 and also the Emergency Ordinance setting the technical procedure for the organization of the elections.

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