Luxembourg

[LU] ALIA publishes guidelines before the 11 June 2023 local elections in Luxembourg

IRIS 2023-4:1/11

Eric Munch

European Audiovisual Observatory

On 24 February 2023, the Autorité luxembourgeoise indépendante de l’audiovisuel (Luxembourg Independent Authority for Audiovisual MediaLuxembourgish National Media Regulator — ALIA) published guidelines for the local elections taking place on 11 June 2023. The guidelines were drafted following a consultation phase with candidates, political parties, and audiovisual media entrusted with a public service mission. Electoral campaigns by political parties and candidates on social media are not covered by these guidelines.

In accordance with Article 35, paragraph 1, m) of the modified Law of 27 July 1991 on Electronic Media, ALIA must develop guidelines regarding the conditions of production, programming, and the dissemination of electoral messages by political parties and candidates, and of programmes related to the electoral media campaign broadcast on public service media (Radio 100,7) and private media entrusted with a public service mission (such as RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg and RTL Radio Lëtzebuerg, in accordance with Articles 3 and 12 of the amended Law of 27 July 1991 on Electronic Media).

The guidelines establish that editorial offices must provide ALIA with written schemes regarding the electoral campaign, along with a list and description of all electoral campaign-related programmes that will be broadcast during the period. ALIA may suggest adjustments if the principle of equity between political parties is not respected or in order to provide relevant, diversified, complete and critical information for listeners and viewers. Potential complaints, reclamations and observations from candidates, political parties or the public are to be addressed to ALIA. In the case of an unexpected imbalance in coverage, media service providers are encouraged to rebalance the content of their programmes for the remainder of the electoral campaign.

The guidelines detail the broadcasting time required to be dedicated to political parties. Political parties – or alliances – able to present full electoral lists in municipalities totalling at least a quarter of the country’s total population have nine minutes of airtime per media. Parties able to present full electoral lists in municipalities totalling less than a quarter of the country’s total population will have their airtime determined in proportion of the number of inhabitants of the concerned municipalities.

Campaign spots can be produced by all political parties, in the language of their choosing (but with subtitles in French and German for accessibility), for a duration of 10 to 45 seconds, and new spots can be introduced during the electoral campaign. Broadcasts will be accompanied by a visual and/or sound indication. ALIA will determine the broadcasting order for the spots and ensure equity in repartition. On 13 March 2023, ALIA published additional technical requirements regarding the formats of campaign spots.

Only political parties with full electoral lists in municipalities totalling at least a quarter of the country’s total population are invited to participate in round table discussions. Candidates are allowed to express themselves in Luxembourgish, French or German. Open political discussions are suspended for the duration of the electoral campaign. News shows are not covered by the guidelines as long as their content is not covered by the schemes established by the editorial offices in the context of the electoral campaign.

The electoral media campaign will begin on 15 May 2023 and end on 9 June, two days before the elections.