46. Do any other restrictions on online media advertisement (beyond limits) exist?
North Macedonia, Republic of
Electoral Code (2018), Articles 75e, 75f, 76
From the day of the announcement of the elections until the beginning of the election campaign, broadcasters, printed media and electronic media (portals) shall not broadcast, i.e. publish paid political advertisements, except for advertisements and announcements for collecting signatures for supporting a candidature of a group of voters.
The election campaign participant-purchaser of paid political advertising from broadcasters, printed media and electronic media (internet portals) is required to submit a media plan for paid political advertising.
The regulation below applies also to electronic media:
- Paid political advertising must be properly and visibly marked as “paid political advertising” and clearly separated from other media contents.
- The client ordering the advertising must be clearly indicated in all forms of paid political advertising.
- Participation of minors in paid political advertising shall be prohibited.
- Broadcasters cannot broadcast paid political advertising during news, special informative programmes, educational and children’s programmes and during live broadcast from religious, sports, cultural, entertainment and other type of events.
- The public broadcasting service shall not broadcast paid political advertising.
- For the purpose of providing objective information to the voters about the course of the election campaign and for the purpose of protecting the profession of journalism from any political influence during the electoral media presentation, special information programs must not be used as a form of paid political advertising."
