Media and Elections

Albania

ME037

Criteria for allocating free broadcast time

Question:	What are the criteria for allocating free broadcast time and/or free printed advertisement space to political parties?
Answer(s):	c. Based on result of previous election
Comments:	Electoral Code: Art 80: 1.During the electoral campaign, the Public Radio and Television provides to registered political parties and to the CEC free airtime for campaigning, which is allocated according to the following rules: a) a total of two hours is provided to the CEC according to the time slots it requests. At least two-thirds of this time shall be between 18:00 and 22:00; b) for parliamentary parties that received more than 20 per cent of the seats in the last elections to the Assembly, the CEC allocates equal airtime of no less than 30 minutes on the Public Television and the same airtime on the Public Radio; for the rest of the parliamentary parties, this airtime is no less than 15 minutes. If airtime is increased for one party or one respective coalition, the time allotted to another party or coalition shall be proportionally increased; c) each party that does not hold a seat in the Assembly, but runs in elections is allocated 10 minutes of airtime on the Public Television and 10 minutes of airtime on the Public Radio; ç) the respective electoral subject must be clearly identifiable on any political programme or advertisement for purposes of electoral propaganda. If the political programme or advertisement is not clearly identifiable, the CEC orders the immediate suspension of its broadcast until the subject is rendered identifiable according to the requirements in this point.
Source:	The Electoral Code of the Republic of Albania, dated 2 April 2015, art. 80
Verified:	2017/05/19

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ME059

Television debates

Question:	Are televised debates between candidates or party representatives normally conducted?
Answer(s):	b. Yes, in legislative elections
Comments:	Electoral Code: 84: 3. Private radios and televisions have the right to organize electoral debates between the competing political parties or candidates. In these debates, the private radio/television broadcasters shall preserve the balance between the political parties participating in the debate. In the case of violations, the CEC orders the NCRT to debar the transmission of the radio/television broadcaster for 48 hours, starting no later than 1800 of the following day.
Source:	The Electoral Code of the Republic of Albania, dated 2 April 2015, art. 84(3)
Verified:	2017/05/19

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ME062

Blackout period for release of opinion poll results.

Question:	What is the blackout period, if any, during which results of pre-election opinion polls may not be released to the public?
Answer:	c. 4-5 days
Comments:	Electoral code: Art. 78: 3. The results of electoral polls may not be made public during the last 5 days before the election date and on the election date until the closing of the polls.y.
Source:	The Electoral Code of the Republic of Albania, 2 April 2015, art. 78, 3.
Verified:	2017/05/19

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ME080

Question:	Is there a maximum amount that a political party is permitted to spend on paid advertising during a campaign period?
Answer:	c. No information available
Comments:	No information is available about a maximum amount that a political party is permitted to spend on paid advertising during a campaign period, but Electoral Code, Art. 90 (3) provides that: The total expense made by a political party, including their candidates, for an electoral campaign must not exceed 10 times the highest amount that an electoral subject has received from public funds according to article 87 of this Code.
Source:	The Electoral Code of the Republic of Albania, dated 2 April 2015, 90(3)
Verified:	2017/05/19

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