§ Section 11(untitled)

General Conditions for
Pre-election Campaigns in the Television and Radio Programmes of
Electronic Mass Media
(1) Campaigner or its authorized person shall enter into the
contract for the allocation of broadcasting time directly and
without mediators only with the electronic mass medium.
(2) If an electronic mass medium has allocated broadcasting
time to a campaigner for a pre-election campaign, this medium has
the obligation to provide an opportunity for other campaigners,
if they wish so, to present themselves for the same amount of
time at a time slot as equivalent thereto as possible and for a
payment that corresponds to the price list for the broadcasting
time of pre-election campaigns determined by the relevant
electronic mass medium on the day when the campaigner submitted a
written application to the electronic mass media for the use of
broadcasting time for a pre-election campaign. The electronic
mass media has such obligation only if the broadcasting time
requested by the campaigner for a pre-election campaign may be
allocated in accordance with the provisions of the Electronic
Mass Media Law governing the maximum amount of advertising
time.
(3) The electronic mass medium shall, at least 150 days before
the election day, send to the National Electronic Mass Media
Council the price lists for the broadcasting time of pre-election
campaigns, including the planned discounts and criteria for the
application of discounts, for the entire pre-election period. The
National Electronic Mass Media Council shall, without a delay,
publish the abovementioned information on its website.
(4) If the Saeima has been dissolved or recalled or a
local government council is dissolved, or repeat elections are
announced, the electronic mass medium shall send the price lists
for the broadcasting time of pre-election campaigns to the
National Electronic Mass Media Council for publishing not later
than within three working days from the day when the elections
are announced.
(5) The price lists for broadcasting time determined by the
electronic mass media for the relevant hour of the day may not
exceed the average price lists for audio and audiovisual
commercial announcements of the same programme of the electronic
mass medium at the same hour of the day (including discounts) in
the previous calendar year by more than 50 per cent.
(6) The electronic mass medium is prohibited from placing
pre-election campaign materials for a higher or lower price than
determined in the price lists referred to in this Section. Such
price lists may not be amended after their publication.
(7) If the electronic mass medium has not sent the National
Electronic Mass Media Council the price lists for the
broadcasting time of pre-election campaigns in conformity with
the provisions of this Section and within the time limits laid
down therein, such mass medium shall be prohibited from placing
pre-election campaign materials for payment.
(8) Before each of the pre-election campaigns provided for in
this Section and immediately after thereof, it shall be clearly
and unambiguously communicated which campaigner has paid for the
pre-election campaign.
(9) Provisions of this Section shall not apply to the use of
the State ensured free broadcasting time in television and radio
programmes of the public electronic mass media.
[10 June 2021]