Media and Elections

Turkey

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):	d. Based on mixture of principles (specify)
Comments:	Political parties which take part in the election may conduct electioneering activities on radio and television after the 7th day in advance of the election day until 18:00 hours on the day before the election day, provided that the provisions in private laws are reserved. Political parties shall be given the following electioneering rights: a) two speeches not more than 10 minutes on the first 10 days and the last day to explain their programs and projects, b) an additional 10 minute for political parties having a group in the Grand National Assembly, c) an additional electioneering time of 20 minutes for the party having the political power or the larger one of the parties sharing the power and additional 15 minutes for other parties holding the power Political parties may also conduct visualised electioneering activities provided that the time used for such activities does not exceed half of electioneering times. Visualised electioneering shall be prepared by producers other than TRT (Turkish Radio & Television Institution). Visualised electioneering is for explaining the activities which have been and will be performed by political parties. Such electioneering shall not include any image to constitute an offence. Such electioneering of political parties shall not be less than two minutes at a time nor shall its total time within a day be more than ten minutes. Political parties may exercise their visualised electioneering rights in more than one channel of TRT. The Supreme Board of Elections shall determine the period of time in which the images shall be delivered to TRT and the times of broadcast of such electioneering by TRT depending on the availability of TRT. If such images contain a matter constituting an offence, the Supreme Board of Elections shall not allow the images be broadcast. Political parties shall, in their first speeches through the radio and television make their election declarations. Speeches shall be broadcast simultaneously through all radio and television stations in Turkey. The day and time of electioneering speeches through radio and television and the parties to deliver speech shall be announced in advance through news programs by Turkish Radio and Television. The Supreme Board of Elections and Turkish Radio and Television shall provide that electioneering through radio and television shall be made equitably and impartially.
Source:	Law on Basic Provisions on Elections and Voter Registers, art. 52
Verified:	2014/08/04

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ME059

Television debates

Question:	Are televised debates between candidates or party representatives normally conducted?
Answer(s):	d. No information available
Comments:	Constitution, art. 102 provides that President is elected by the members of Turkish Grand National Assembly. No information is available on the question whether there are debates conducted during legislative elections.
Source:
Verified:	2014/08/04

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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:	d. 6-7 days
Comments:	Within seven days before the voting date, no broadcasts for or against a specific political party or candidate nor any broadcasts that may influence the citizen's vote through any kind of programmes such as news and interviews or through advertising or public opinion surveys, questionnaires, forecasts, and via information communication telephone lines under labels such as mini-referendums shall be allowed. Those not complying with these restrictions are deemed to have violated the broadcasting standards.
Source:	Law on the Establishment of Radio and Television Enterprises and Their Broadcasts, art.32
Verified:	2014/08/04

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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:
Source:
Verified:	2014/08/04

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