33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties?

Hungary

Hungary

Answer
Equal
Source

Political Parties Act; Parliamentary Elections, 8 April 2018 ODIHR Limited Election Observation Mission Final Report

https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/hungary/385959?download=true

Comment

The Act on Election Procedures obliges the media to grant all contestants equal opportunity, but vaguely defines provisions for its implementation. The law envisages 600 minutes of free airtime on the public broadcaster and permits paid political advertising in the print and online media. Paid political advertisements are banned on commercial radio and TV, but such media may provide airtime free of charge on an equal basis.

Usually the public broadcaster fulfilles its legal obligation to divide free airtime equally, but not all parties availe themselves of the opportunity and some used their airtime to criticize the broadcaster for ignoring them outside of the campaign.

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