The National Elections Commission has warned citizens of electoral bodies wishing to stand for election to the Federal National Council against receiving any electoral donations from foreign bodies or natural or juridical persons, stressing in the executive instructions issued by them, that this measure represents an electoral violation that requires administrative penalty The candidate reaches his exclusion from the lists and revokes his electoral advertising license.
The electoral process will start on Sunday, opening the door for registration of citizens wishing to stand for election, which will continue until Thursday, 22 August.
In detail, the executive instructions issued by the National Electoral Commission stressed that the financing of election campaigns for the FNC candidates should be “self-sufficient” by ensuring that the candidate spends on his campaign, but at the same time authorizing the candidate to receive donations from natural or legal persons. , Provided that these figures are citizens of the state only.
The instructions prohibited the candidate from receiving any money or donations from foreign persons or entities, and stipulated that the total electoral donations received by one candidate should not exceed the maximum ceiling set for spending on the election campaign, amounting to two million dirhams.
It also prohibited the candidate from spending on his election campaign from public funds or from the budgets of ministries, companies and public bodies, or the use of their powers to support any of the candidates or the work of electoral propaganda in favor of any of them, stressing the importance of the commitment of candidates to submit statements of accounts of donations they receive to Committees of the Emirates, on the form prepared for this (statement of account on the contributions received by the candidate).
The executive instructions granted each candidate five basic rights, once he accepted his nomination papers and declared him an official candidate for elections: First: expressing himself and carrying out any activity aimed at persuading voters to choose him and publicizing his electoral program in full accordance with the rules stipulated in the executive instructions for the elections of the Federal National Council; Receive donations from UAE natural or legal persons only.
The list of rights of the candidate also included the establishment of an electoral headquarters after obtaining the approval of the Emirate Committee, as well as obtaining a license if the applicant is a public official (federal or local) or of military status, and finally choose an agent to attend the polling and counting, provided that The agent is among those registered in the electoral body of the Emirate to which he belongs.
According to the instructions, «every candidate has the right to express himself, and to conduct any activity aimed at persuading voters to choose him, and propaganda for his electoral program in full freedom, provided that a number of rules and regulations, including the preservation of community values, and adherence to the regulations, rules and decisions in force in this regard, Respect for public order, not including in the election campaign ideas that incite religious, sectarian, tribal or racial intolerance towards others, and not to deceive or falsify voters by any means, in addition to not defame, defamate, infringe or offend other candidates. Rara: not to include in his election campaign promises or programs outside the powers of the member of the Council ».
The executive instructions gave the UAE committees the authority to determine the locations and places of placing posters, paintings and propaganda images of the candidates, in agreement with the local municipal departments concerned, in accordance with the regulations established in each emirate, and taking into account the provision of equal opportunities for each candidate. And holding seminars, within the specified period of the election campaigns, after obtaining a license from the Emirate Committee. Such gatherings may be held in galleries, halls and camps designated for celebrations.
Civil and criminal responsibility
The National Elections Commission, in its executive instructions, stated that if the candidate commits any irregularity, which may prejudice the conduct of the electoral process, or disrupt the application of the executive instructions issued thereon, in addition to the civil and criminal liability to which the candidate may be subjected in accordance with the laws and regulations in force. In this regard, the National Elections Commission can impose sanctions on the offenders of the candidates, beginning with its warning of exclusion from the lists of candidates.
She added that the sanctions also include the exclusion of the candidate from the lists, or cancel the license for electoral propaganda granted to him, and obliging him to pay a fine not exceeding 5000 dirhams, and also obliged him to hand over any amounts obtained other than what is stated in the executive instructions, and finally obligate the candidate to remove violations related to advertising Election, and repair any damages arising from it at his own expense.
• «National Elections» requires candidates to submit statements of contributions to the committees of the Emirates.