Visit the project's website: https://political-billboards.mk
Billboards are considered to be media for outdoor advertising, placed on the most frequent roads/traffic routes attracting drivers/pedestrian’s’ attention, and as commercial advertising objects, they are also used in the election campaigning.
For the parliamentary elections in North Macedonia, June-July 2020, the IMPETUS Association has developed an interactive online map and analysis of the political advertising through billboards during the election campaign, which are available on the official website of the project. IMPETUS submitted to the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption specific recommendations and proposals for more precise regulation of this type of advertising in the election legislation, based on the conducted research and findings in 2020. Since this area has proven to be of interest to IMPETUS, the monitoring of political advertisements and election process, continued for 2021 local elections, too.
The purpose of this research was to monitor, assess and check the activities of the participants in the election campaign in the local elections 2021, related to outdoor advertising, to identify the challenges arising from the legal framework and the manner of implementation of Article 78 – a of the Electoral Code, referring to billboards advertising. This research analysis presents the results of the location/content monitoring of billboards during the local election campaign in October 2021, within the period from 27.09-15.10.2021 in North Macedonia. IMPETUS developed this online map and produced significant recommendations to change the Election Code’s provisions, proving to be inefficient and unjustified when billboards for political advertising are in question.
Based on the research in the project, monitoring the content and locations of the billboards, we determined how Article 78-a of the Electoral Code is implemented, i.e. transparency of the percentage (%) of representation of political parties on the billboards with their own advertising space.
We also analyzed the content of the billboards in order to alert people about hate speech and to remove all party content that harms the democratic processes in the country.
So far, no action has been taken to monitor this specific sector in our country. The methodology is unique and designed by IMPETUS, supported by IFES.
WHAT WAS ACHIEVED?
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Transparency criteria analysis „Billboard advertising” – Local Elections, 2021
Political party funding and finance constitute an important aspect of the electoral process. The sources of funding and finance of political parties and the way and manner these funds are spent largely determine the quality and acceptability or otherwise of almost every election.
Political financing is traditionally a sensitive area, so the Republic of Northern Macedonia faces a number of challenges related to political financing that are a threat to the democratic processes in the country. In the past few years, RSM has taken a number of steps that seem to lead to transparent funding. Implementation of comprehensive and effective measures for prevention and repression of corruption in the financing of political parties requires effective cooperation of the institutions in charge of controlling the finances of the parties, i.e. the State Election Commission, the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption, the State Audit Office. Public Revenue Office, Ministry of Justice, Broadcasting Council. The readiness of the political parties to cooperate with the competent institutions and to fulfill the legally prescribed obligations is also crucial.
Monitoring the Advertising of Political Parties and Candidates on Billboards – Parliamentary Elections 2020
In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the early parliamentary elections, the Impetus Association has indicated that political parties will focus more on foreign media advertising, as rallies were expected to be restricted or completely banned. In this sense, outdoor advertising sites, especially billboards, as large billboards, increase the attention and importance of political parties and the financing of their election campaigns.
The purpose of this analysis is to identify the challenges arising from the legal framework, the potential risks of corruption, and to monitor the full implementation of Article 78-a of the Electoral Code.
Thus, the analysis will contribute to a better understanding of the regulation and practical functioning of the advertising of political parties in foreign media and its financing, as well as the obligations and activities of the involved entities (political entities – participants in the election campaign, State Election Commission, units of local self-government, legal entities / companies that own advertising sites, etc.).
Monitoring the Advertising of Political Parties and Candidates on Billboards – Local Elections, 2021
This report presents the results of the monitoring of the locations and the content of the billboards during the election campaign for the local elections, October 2021.
The purpose of this research is to monitor, perceive and check the activities of the participants in the election campaign in the local elections 2021, related to outdoor advertising, to identify the challenges arising from the legal framework, potential risks of corruption and the full implementation of Article 78 -a of the Electoral Code.
Billboards are media for outdoor advertising, outdoor advertising, placed on the busiest roads / traffic routes/roads of citizens and vehicles, attracting attention and commercial advertising space for marketing that is also used in the election campaign.
