Forty-eight hours before the referendum on the appearance of the City Trade Center should complete the publication of public propaganda, unlike 24 hours for parties during elections. Journalists can publish articles related to GTC, but not with the referendum or thesis accepted by the authorized proposer.
Article 12 of Law on Referendum and other forms of direct expression of the citizens read that “public propaganda for the referendum must complete at least 48 hours before election day.”
Article 45 of the Law, however, states that during a referendum on a local level, the provisions of the Law on Local Elections are applicable, unless this law states otherwise.
In instructions for preparation, organizing and conducting referendum at the local level in the Municipality of Centar, prepared by SEC, reads that:
“On the referendum on the local level in the Municipality of Centar, the Council of the Municipality of Centar, as authorized proposer, may lead public propaganda at its own expense, but it must end no later than 48 hours before election day.”
Civil initiative “I love GTC” say that silence, in terms of elections and electoral processes, during a referendum is not prescribed in the Law on Referendum and other forms of direct expression of citizens.
– This law stipulates cessation of propaganda that led by the authorized proposer, i.e. the body that initiated the referendum, and the campaign led by the Municipality of Centar to keep authentic look of GTC ends on 23rd of April at midnight – say representatives of the initiative “I love GTC”.
