Today, 495 candidates and candidates for the Federal National Council elections begin their campaigns to compete for 20 parliamentary seats by electing out of 40 parliamentary seats, amid the follow-up and monitoring by the UAE committees to control the conduct of the elections and address any irregularities or wrong practices. While a large number of citizens complained about what they called «fever propaganda» for the elections, after they received hundreds of letters inviting them to vote for candidates, by companies and parties running campaigns, which the National Elections Commission «electoral offense» requires administrative punishment according to what Executive instructions.

In detail, campaigning campaigns for the candidates of the FNC elections 2019 will be launched today at the state level, amid tight procedures by the Emirates Committees of the NEC to follow up and monitor the methods and expenses of the electoral promotion of the candidates, pledging to take all punitive measures according to the executive instructions, against any Violation or publicity note is recorded.

The committee pointed out that all means of electoral propaganda will be monitored and monitored by the UAE committees and the concerned municipal departments, starting with the traditional media (television, radio, newspapers and magazines), through electronic platforms (social networking sites, YouTube channels and news portals), and to banners and posters. Electoral and street advertising.

According to the executive instructions issued by the National Elections Commission in relation to the electoral campaigns, candidates must obtain the approval of the Emirate Committee before opening their electoral centers, disclose the sources of funding for the campaign and electoral campaigns, hand over the election campaign plan and budget for approval to the EMC. Each candidate has the right to present his electoral program in the print and audio-visual media, to hold seminars and press conferences, and to commit not to give any in-kind or material gifts to the voters.

While citizens complained on their personal accounts on social networking sites, what they called «fever text messages», as they stressed that each of them receives about 20 text messages on his mobile phone, by companies and organizations running campaigns for candidates, inviting them to vote To them, calling this kind of propaganda “bothersome and infringing on privacy”.

A number of them demanded the need to take action against such kind of "useless" propaganda, as they described, stressing that their choice of candidate will not depend on the electoral propaganda as much as on electoral programs, and what the candidate will provide to the country and citizens.

On the other hand, the National Elections Commission called on all candidates to abide by the regulations, regulations and decisions in place in organizing election campaigns and respecting public order, stressing that the executive instructions prohibit the use of telephone messages by companies or commercial use in the promotion of any candidate.

She stressed the need for each candidate to commit not to deceive or fraudulent voters by any means, or not to defame, defamate, or abuse of the remaining candidates, or to include in his campaign promises or programs outside the powers of the Council member, as well as not to include in the election campaigns ideas calling for Raising religious, sectarian, tribal or ethnic intolerance towards others.

According to the instructions, “every candidate has the right to express himself, to carry out any activity aimed at convincing voters to choose him, and to publicize his electoral program in full freedom, provided that a number of rules and regulations, including the preservation of community values, are adhered to, while the candidate is prohibited from receiving any money or donations from Foreign persons or parties, as stipulated that the total electoral donations received by one candidate should not exceed the maximum ceiling set for spending on the election campaign (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 make electoral propaganda for any of them in any way, noting the importance of the commitment of candidates to submit statements of donations accounts they receive to committees UAE affiliates, on the form prepared for this (an account statement of the contributions received by the candidate).

The executive instructions gave each candidate five basic rights, the first of which is to express himself and engage in any activity aimed at persuading voters to choose him, publicizing his electoral program in full accordance with the rules stipulated in the executive instructions of the FNC elections, and secondly, receiving 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 and local) or of military status, and finally to choose an agent to attend the voting and counting, provided that the agent Among those registered in the electoral body of the Emirate to which he belongs.

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. Lectures and seminars, during the period specified for election campaigns, after obtaining a license from the Emirate Committee. Such gatherings may be held in galleries, halls and camps designated for celebrations.

Excesses

The National Elections Commission said: “If the candidate commits any irregularity that would prejudice the conduct of the electoral process or disrupt the application of the executive instructions issued in addition to the civil and criminal liability that the candidate may be subject to in accordance with the laws and regulations in force in this regard, the National Elections Commission can The offender shall be subjected to penalties starting with his warning of exclusion from the lists of candidates, and may also include his exclusion from the lists, or the revocation of the license for electoral propaganda granted to him, and the obligation to pay a fine not exceeding 5000 dirhams, and the obligation to hand over The National Commission of any amounts obtained other than what is stated in the executive instructions, and finally compel the candidate to remove irregularities relating to electoral propaganda, and to repair any damages arising out of them at his own expense ».

The means of electoral propaganda will be monitored by the Emirates Committees and the relevant municipal departments.