HRT PREPARES RULES FOR COVERAGE OF PRE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN

ZAGREB, Dec 8 (Hina) - The Croatian Radio and Television (HRT) commission for the implementation of rules of the HRT conduct during the pre-election campaign convened a working session with representatives of political parties for Thursday. The closed session should revolve around details in the implementation of the rules, while precise instructions will be announced by the HRT Commission subsequently, said the Commission's secretary, Kresimir Macan, on Wednesday. The commission has already drawn up a draft plan for carrying out the rules and it should be discussed during tomorrow's session. According that draft proposal, the HRT will cover the pre-election campaign in the first channel of the national television (HTV) and radio. A sequence of the presentation of political parties will be determined on December 14 by public drawing of lots. The commission proposes that broadcasts aimed at promotion of parties and candidates should be aired every day from Monday to Thursday as of December 15 by 30 December. No such broadcasts should be included in the HRT programme for 24, 25 and 26 December. The HTV is to have two or three broadcasts of this kind every evening, which should last 45 minutes, while such broadcasts on the Croatian Radio should last 55 minutes. Leaders of the parties and lists will present themselves in a five- minute show between 18:45 and 19:10 hours every day. Candidates of electoral lists can have TV duels during particular 50-minute-long shows. Reports from pre-election rallies will be broadcast by the HTV every day after the end of the third and fourth "Dnevnik" (flagship news programmes). Paid commercial videos promoting parties will be aired all the time except during the prime news programme ("Dnevnik" at 19:30). Special 30-minute-long broadcasts under the sponsorship will be show according to agreement. (hina) mm ms