TSE Rules Take Effect: Broadcasters Must Drop Aspiring Candidates as Publicity Limits Kick In

Overview

• Broadcasters have been barred since Tuesday, June 30, from airing programs presented or commented by pre-candidates and many TV and radio hosts have left shows to run for office, with fines or denial of candidate registration for noncompliance.
• Stricter limits on government publicity and public events begin on July 4 and ban pre-candidates from attending inaugurations while restricting institutional ads that could favor contenders.
• From July 4 public bodies also face a cap on advertising commitments that exceed six times the three‑year monthly average and tighter rules on hiring, firing and transfers of public servants to reduce use of the state machine for campaign gain.
• Party conventions open on July 20 and run into early August, which is when parties formally choose candidates and when campaign receipts and contracts begin to be recorded publicly in the TSE system.
• Technical safeguards continue in July with submission and homologation of election software code, publication of public security test results on July 31 and other procedural steps that aim to strengthen vote integrity while the Electoral Justice can approve narrow exceptions for urgent public needs.