The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) informs that the new rules for the conduct of political advertising came into force on 8 January 2023. Thus, according to the CEC, the broadcasting of political advertising takes place only on the basis of the advertising broadcasting contract concluded in written form between the advertising distributor and the advertising broadcaster. Payment for political advertising broadcasting services can only be made by bank transfer.

The Members of the Commission draw attention to the fact that political advertising, regardless of the form and method of dissemination – advertising on fixed or mobile devices, audiovisual advertising, outdoor advertising (including temporary advertising), print advertising, online advertising (including targeted or targetable advertising) – must contain the heading “Political advertising”, the identification data of the person who paid for the dissemination of political advertising, the date and number of the bank order for payment for the dissemination of political advertising.

“Subliminal, misleading, immoral, discriminatory, sexist political advertising, which may cause panic, incite violence or dangerous actions, which may harm people’s health or threaten their safety, which directly or indirectly encourages unlawful behaviour, is prohibited, which unduly contains images of dangerous situations, actions, exercises, customs, which disregards security or means of security, which denigrates products, services or professions, even without explicit mention, which makes unauthorised use of the state symbolism of the R. Moldova or other states, which is not accompanied by identification data in advertising and/or means of identification of the advertising provider or the broadcaster, which contains text that is inappropriate in terms of current spelling rules.

The following subjects may not be political advertisers: a foreign state; an international organization (including political); a legal entity that is not registered in the Republic of Moldova; a foreign citizen; a legal entity registered in the Republic of Moldova, which has as founder, partner and/or beneficial owner one of the above-mentioned foreign entities/persons; a legal entity registered in the Republic of Moldova; a legal entity registered in the Republic of Moldova; a legal entity registered in the Republic of Moldova, which has as founder, partner and/or beneficial owner one of the above-mentioned foreign entities/persons. Moldova, which, during the last 3 years before the signing of the contract for the broadcasting of political advertisements, has carried out activities financed/paid in full or in part by the above-mentioned foreign entities/persons; a foundation; a philanthropic organisation; a trade union; a religious organisation; a public sector entity; an anonymous person; a public or private broadcaster with media status; a citizen of the R. Moldova who has not reached the age of 18; a natural person who has reached the age of 18, deprived of the right to choose; a person acting on behalf of a third person; a trader,” according to a CEC statement.

The CEC says it is to establish specific regulations on the dissemination of political advertising in accordance with the provisions of the Law of 17 March 2022 on advertising and the Election Code No 325 of 8 December 2022.