Question:

This question is posted by ACE on behalf of Prof. Matt Qvortrup

There are "purdah" rules in some countries, which are the rules – whether constitutional, statutory, or conventional - prohibiting the government, in a period immediately before an election or referendum, from making statements or undertaking actions, that might influence the outcome of the vote. During this period (usually 28 days in the UK), the government is said to be ‘in purdah.’ 

Does anyone have information about similar comparative practices, particularly in other European democracies?  

This is a time-sensitive request, and any quick information would be very much appreciated. Thank you!

Summary:

Practitioners noted that it is becoming common practice for governments to prohibit the induction of state projects in the period leading up to Election Day, and several countries in the Eastern Europe region have been a part of this trend. In Georgia, the government is banned from implementing projects not included in the budget and increasing the amount of social allocations in the pre-election period. Beginning in 2011, the FYR Macedonia banned “extra payments” of pensions, salaries, and other social benefits during the pre-election period. In 2014, the parliament in Montenegro barred raising social welfare spending by more than 5 percent after the call to hold elections and banned public institutions from paid advertising during the pre-election period, though the Supreme Court found these provisions unconstitutional. 

Practitioners also noted examples of countries with similar policies outside of Europe. Since the implementation of constitutional reform in 2007, the constitution of Mexico now contains provisions prohibiting the dissemination of government propaganda through the media during the course of the campaign and through the end of Election Day. Advertising related to civil education campaigns, educational services related to health, and civil protection in emergencies are still permitted. Senegal has purdah provisions in its electoral legislation that prohibit any propaganda from being distributed by public or private national media in the 30 days before the opening of the official electoral campaign.

Ecuador’s electoral law contains election campaign advertising restrictions on state institutions at all levels of government. Additionally, the dissemination of any information by public institutions that could sway voters is prohibited 48 hours before Election Day. India’s Election Commission produced a code of conduct for political parties which includes a ban on the announcement of new projects or policies that could impact voters.

Finally, practitioners noted that Brazil and the Philippines are adopting similar policies.

One practitioner noted that the adoption of such purdah policies is not enough to ensure that they are implemented. Credible enforcement measures and appropriate sanctions must also be in place, and the independence of the judiciary or electoral tribunal could be a key component of this regime.  

Contributing Members:

• Víctor Hugo Ajila Mora
• Ababacar Fall
• Magnus Ohman
• Atem Oben Henry Ekpeni
• Suryakrishnamurty Kottapalli
• Enrique López Sanavia

En el Ecuador, la ley electoral (Código de la Democracia) contiene disposiciones relacionadas con la pregunta. Por ejemplo, durante la campaña electoral se aplican restricciones a la publicidad de las instituciones del Estado en todo los niveles de gobierno, con varias excepciones que han generado controversia entre los actores políticos y en la opinión pública en general.

Otro ejemplo es el silencio electoral que se aplica desde las 48 horas antes de la elección hasta las 17h00 del día del sufragio.

Para mayor explicación, adjunto los textos de las normas referidas.

Si es necesario, puedo realizar cualquier ampliación o aclaración a esta respuesta.

Saludos

Dans mon pays, le senegal de telles dispositions existent dans notre législation électorale . En effet les dispositions de l'article L.61 interdisent toute propagande déguisée ayant pour support les médias nationaux publics et prives. Sont assimilées à des propagandes ou campagnes déguisées, les visites et tournées à caractère économique, sociale ou autrement qualifiées effectuées par toutes autorités de l'Etat sur le territoire national et qui donnent lieu a de telles manifestations ou déclarations. Cela est valable durant les 30 jours précédant l'ouverture de la campagne officielle électorale. Cette disposition a pour objectif d'empêcher que par ces actes, on ne puisse influencer le vote des électeurs, car on a vu par le passé les autorités effectuer des tournées avant le démarrage de la campagne électorale pour distribuer des vivres dans les zones rurales. Ababacar fall Expert en opérations électorales Dakar (Senegal)

Banning certain activities by state institutions ahead of elections is becoming increasinbgly common in the Eastern part of Europe. In Georgia, the implementation of projects not included in the budget are banned during pre-election periods since 2013, and there is a ban on increasing the amount of social allocations. In the FYR Macedonia, no ”extra payments” of pensions, salaries or other social benefits are allowed during pre-election periods since 2011. The Montegrin parliament banned in 2014 the raising of social welfare spending by more than 5% from the calling to the holding of elections. They also banned public institutions from taking out paid advertising during pre-election period. However, the Supreme Court found these provisions unconstitutional. Outside of Europe, we see this trend in countries such as Brazil, India and the Philippines. 

It is now becoming a common practice to prohibit state projects for inauguration or launching in the period or days closer to national elections. Whether prohibiting such state activities 30 days or prohibiting the execution of projects out of budget, the key concern here is the sanction regimes. This issue is broad and not limited to state project, extra expenses or policy propaganda during the eve of elections. It extends to the indirect use of state resources. As a matter of fact, in Cameroon, it is prohibited for state employees to use government resources during campaign periods; state vehicles, states funds etc. The use of these resources has been key contributor to maintaining the ruling party in power. No sanction has ever been meted to any who violated this provision.

 

While it is very necessary to institute such provisions to build the integrity of the electoral process, measures to track those who violates and procedures towards sanctions should be credible. The independence of the judiciary or the electoral tribunal is critical in such a case.

In India, the Election Commission has prescribed a Model Code of Conduct for party in power and political parties which contains Dos and Don’ts. Among these Don’ts is a bar on announcement of new schemes/projects/ventures or policy decisions which will have an effect on voters especially as an inducement. (Copy attached)

 

En la democracia mexicana, se prevén determinantes medidas prohibitivas que garantizan los principios de equidad y armonía eleccionaria, al ordenarse la suspensión de propaganda política, propaganda personalizada o publicidad que realice  el aparato gubernamental durante las campañas electorales de los procesos comiciales, influyan en las elecciones populares e incidan en las preferencias ciudadanas y resultados electorales. Habría que dar  lectura a los artículos 41 y 134 la Constitución Política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos, que para el efecto del tema solicitado, se transcribe la parte relativa de ese deber ser:

Artículo 41 Constitucional: “Durante el tiempo que comprendan las campañas electorales federales y locales y hasta la conclusión de la respectiva jornada comicial, deberá suspenderse la difusión en los medios de comunicación social de toda propaganda gubernamental, tanto de los poderes federales y estatales, como de los municipios, órganos de gobierno del Distrito Federal, sus delegaciones y cualquier otro ente público. Las únicas excepciones a lo anterior serán las campañas de información de las autoridades electorales, las relativas a servicios educativos y de salud, o las necesarias para la protección civil en casos de emergencia”.

Artículo 134 Constitucional: “La propaganda, bajo cualquier modalidad de comunicación social, que difundan como tales, los poderes públicos, los órganos autónomos, las dependencias y entidades de la administración pública y cualquier otro ente de los tres órdenes de gobierno, deberá tener carácter institucional y fines informativos, educativos o de orientación social. En ningún caso esta propaganda incluirá nombres, imágenes, voces o símbolos que impliquen promoción personalizada de cualquier servidor público”.

 

Las leyes, en sus respectivos ámbitos de aplicación, garantizarán el estricto cumplimiento de lo previsto en los dos párrafos anteriores, incluyendo el régimen de sanciones a que haya lugar.”

Por consiguiente, es la norma suprema la rectora de estas disposiciones suspensivas o prohibitivas de propaganda, al ser raíz generadora  de la estructura de los tres poderes públicos, asentados en la mayor parte de los pueblos de la tierra.