Today, as well as on Saturday – the official day of Latvia’s municipal elections – the distribution of campaign materials in public spaces is prohibited, the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) informed LETA.
This means that on these two days, election campaign materials may not be published in the press, displayed in outdoor public spaces, or broadcast on electronic media. Paid campaigning on social media or elsewhere on the internet is also prohibited.
Campaigners – including political organizations, candidates running in the elections, and individuals not affiliated with them – are not allowed to distribute campaign materials in urban or other public areas. Additionally, campaigning through state or municipal social media accounts is forbidden. It is also prohibited to distribute any items to potential voters, including sweets or products printed with political party symbols.
Free campaigning on social media and the internet is an exception. The election campaign law does not ban individuals from posting or sharing unpaid content or expressing political opinions online, including on election day and the day before. However, it strictly prohibits paying to promote such posts. Furthermore, promoting videos or other content created with artificial intelligence (AI) tools for a fee is also banned.
Election campaign materials may include advertisements, interviews, and social media posts. If citizens observe unauthorized campaigning in public spaces, in the press, or online during these two days – when the strictest restrictions are in effect – they are encouraged to report it to KNAB.
Reports can be submitted anonymously through the online reporting platform or the mobile app Ziņo KNAB! (Report to KNAB!), by calling the KNAB hotline at 8000 20 70, or by emailing pasts@knab.gov.lv.
The campaigning period for this year’s municipal elections began on February 8 and will conclude on election day, June 7.
Source: BNS
(Reproduction of BNS information in mass media and other websites without written consent of BNS is prohibited)
