Red lines for FNC candidates

Fuente: 
Gulf News
Fecha de publicación: 
03 Sep 2015

Dubai: A list of things to avoid while campaigning for the Federal National Council (FNC) elections was shared during a workshop on political campaigns on Wednesday.

The workshop was aimed to help ensure candidates comply with executive instructions of the 2015 electoral process and curb any possible electoral violations.

Addressing the candidates, Dr Khalid Hassan, Senior Legal Advisor at the Ministry of Sate for Federal National Council Affairs, said candidates must abide by certain campaigning laws and regulations to avoid dismissal from the FNC elections and other penalties.

“Candidates must not insult or slander others while campaigning and they must not take advantage of religion or tribal affiliation while campaigning,” said Dr Hassan.

He also said candidates must not collaborate directly or indirectly while campaigning, as campaigns must be unique to each individual.

While campaigning, candidates must not put their photos or billboards in unauthorised locations that do not abide by each emirates rules. They also cannot use schools, universities, schools, mosques, hospitals and other government offices while campaigning.

Dr Hassan said using advertising texts by commercial companies, giving out gifts and money while campaigning is also not allowed.

Candidates who do not abide by any of these regulations will attract penalties, said Dr Saeed Mohammad Al Ghafli, Assistant Undersecretary for Federal National Council Affairs in the Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs.

The National Election Committee (NEC) has urged all candidates to abide by the governing regulations and directives issued by the committee in terms of electoral campaign in accordance with the executive instructions outlined in Articles 39—51.

The NEC reserves the right to report violations that disrupt the electoral process or the implementation of the executive instructions as per Article 51 of the instructions.

 

Consequences

The committee can impose the following penalties: Issue a warning to exclude a member of an electoral authority from the list of electoral authorities or from candidate lists in both the original and supplementary elections; exclusion of names from the candidates lists, even if lists are considered final; cancellation of campaign licences granted to candidates; a mandatory fine that does not exceed Dh5,000; directing a candidate to hand over any amount that was obtained by the candidate outside the executive instruction frameworks; ordering a candidate to remove any violations related to the electoral campaign and compensate for any damages that may result from these violations at the candidate’s own expense; and cancelling the electoral results in the respective emirate.

According to the time-frame that was announced by the NEC, electoral campaigns will begin on Sunday, September 6, and will continue until Wednesday, September 30.

http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/government/red-lines-for-fnc-candidates-1.1...