34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates?

Source: 

Article 16.14, 16.14a, 16.14b Election Law of BiH of 2001, consolidated version (with 2024 amendments)

(BS)

(1) Javni elektronski mediji će u periodu izborne kampanje ravnopravno i fer predstavljati političke subjekte i informisati javnost o svim pitanjima u vezi sa izbornom kampanjom i izbornim procesom. (2) Javni elektronski medij će u periodu izborne kampanje omogućiti političkim subjektima besplatan termin za neposredno obraćanje. (3) Zabranjeno je vođenje plaćene izborne kampanje putem elektronskih i printanih medija, ili bilo kojeg oblika plaćenog javnog oglašavanja, osim održavanja internih skupova organa i statutarnih tijela političkih subjekata, u periodu od dana raspisivanja izbora do dana službenog početka izborne kampanje. (4) Centralna izborna komisija BiH svojim propisima utvrdiće koliko vremena se dodjeljuje političkim subjektima, termin i trajanje emitovanja i geografska područja pokrivena tim emitovanjem. (5) Javni elektronski medij omogućiće pod istim uslovima u periodu izborne kampanje plaćeno političko oglašavanje političkim subjektima u trajanju od najviše 30 minuta sedmično.

Odredbe člana 16.14, stav (3), shodno se primjenjuju na privatne elektronske medije, onlajn medije, društvene mreže ili bilo koji drugi oblik javnog oglašavanja.

Politički subjekti mogu u toku izborne kampanje voditi kampanju i putem interneta, u skladu s odredbama ovog zakona.

(EN)

(1) Public electronic media shall represent political entities fairly and equally during the election campaign period and inform the public on all matters related to the election campaign and the electoral process. (2) During the election campaign period, public electronic media shall provide political entities with free airtime for direct addresses. (3) Paid election campaigning through electronic and print media, or any form of paid public advertising, is prohibited, except for holding internal meetings of the organs and statutory bodies of political entities, from the day elections are announced until the official start of the election campaign. (4) The Central Election Commission of BiH shall, by its regulations, determine the amount of time allocated to political entities, the schedule and duration of broadcasts, and the geographic areas covered by such broadcasts. (5) Public electronic media shall allow political entities, under the same conditions during the election campaign, paid political advertising for a maximum of 30 minutes per week.

The provisions of Article 16.14, paragraph (3), shall apply accordingly to private electronic media, online media, social networks, or any other form of public advertising. Article

Political entities may conduct their campaign online during the election campaign period, in accordance with the provisions of this Law.

Available at: 

https://advokat-prnjavorac.com/zakoni/Izborni_zakon_BiH.pdf