30 October 2017 – While monitoring the election silence prior to the second round of voting for the 2017 Local Elections, the Agency detected one instance of violation – with the First Programming Service of the Macedonian Radio (Radio Skopje). Namely, in the show programme dedicated to the farmers, statements had been aired by the current Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Supply, Ljupco Nikolovski.
In addition, during the last two days of monitoring the election campaign for the second round of voting, the Agency found that Nova TV had exceeded the limits for paid political advertising. On two occasions – 26 and 27 October, respectively – the latter had aired more than the permitted 8 minutes of paid political advertising per real hour of aired programme, in favour of the opposition political parties.
Within the legally determined deadlines, the Agency will submit a request to the competent court to initiate misdemeanor procedures.
The reports on the broadcasters’ manner of reporting during the election campaign for the second round will be published towards the end of this week.