Media and Elections

Czech Republic

ME037

Question:	What are the criteria for allocating free broadcast time and/or free printed advertisement space to political parties?
Answer(s):	a. Equal regardless of size of party and previous performance
Comments:	Article 16: (1) Each mayor may reserve a space for election posters 16 days before the date of the elections. He/she must ensure that any such space can be used equally by all political parties, movements and coalitions, or by all candidates standing for the Senate. (3) In total, Czech Radio and Czech Television shall each reserve 14 hours of broadcasting time free of charge for all political parties, movements and coalitions whose candidate list has been registered for the elections to the Chamber of Deputies. The broadcasts shall begin 16 days before the date of the elections and end 48 hours before the date of the elections. The aforementioned time shall be divided equally among all such political parties, movements and coalitions.
Source:	Electoral Law: Act of Law 247/1995 Coll., on elections to the Parliament of the Czech Republic (amended by 480/2006 Coll.), art. 16 (1) & (3) http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/europe/CZ/czech-republic-act-no.-247-on-elections-to-the/view (2017)
Verified:	2023/09/18

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ME059

Question:	Are televised debates between candidates or party representatives normally conducted?
Answer(s):	a. Yes, in presidential elections b. Yes, in legislative elections
Comments:	(2010 report): Media is covering election campaign through debates, interviews, news and other political programs. Both public television CT and public radio invite to pre-election debates those parties that have more that five per cent support. (2017/18 report): CT informed the OSCE/ODIHR NAM that debates will be held among those contestants who the opinion polls predict to enter the parliament and among all presidential candidates.
Source:	OSCE/ODIHR Needs Assessment Mission Report on Parliamentary Elections 28-29 MAY 2010 in Czech Republic (Warsaw, 2010): http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/europe/CZ/czech-republic-act-no.-247-on-elections-to-the/view (2017) Czech Republic: Needs Assessment Mission Report, Parliamentary and Presidential Elections 2017, 2018 OSCE/ODIHR (2017) http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/europe/CZ/czech-republic-needs-assessment-mission-report-2/view
Verified:	2023/09/18

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ME062

Question:	What is the blackout period, if any, during which results of pre-election opinion polls may not be released to the public?
Answer:	b. 2-3 days
Comments:	Article 16: (5) In the course of the last fortyeight hours prior to the opening of elections and on the election days, any campaigning and canvassing in favour of Political Parties, coalitions and candidates shall be prohibited; in buildings in which ward election boards have their headquarters, and in their immediate vicinity, no facts that may cause prejudice of a Political Party, coalition or candidate shall be made public whether in words, writing, or in the form of a sound or picture. Election forecasts resulting from public-opinion polls shall not be published after the seventh day preceding the day of the elections.
Source:	Electoral Law: Act of Law 247/1995 Coll., on elections to the Parliament of the Czech Republic (amended by 480/2006 Coll.), art. 16(5). https://www.psp.cz/en/docs/laws/1995/247.html http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/europe/CZ/czech-republic-act-no.-247-on-elections-to-the/view (2017)
Verified:	2023/09/18

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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:	b. No
Comments:	There is no provisions regarding the maximum amount that political party is permitted to spend on print media. There is nearly no restrictions during the campaign period and it can offer paid political advertisement. However, the use of political paid advertisement is prohibited in the electronic media, both public and private. --this was corroborated in the OSCE's 17/18 report, available on ACE---
Source:	OSCE/ODIHR Needs Assessment Mission Report on Parliamentary Elections 28-29 MAY 2010 in Czech Republic (Warsaw, 2010): http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/67702 (2017_ Czech Republic: Needs Assessment Mission Report, Parliamentary and Presidential Elections 2017, 2018 OSCE/ODIHR (2017) http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/europe/CZ/czech-republic-needs-assessment-mission-report-2/view
Verified:	2023/09/18

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