TPEC: Puntland Political Associations Have a Level Playing Field

[Deeq A.]

Garowe (PP News Desk) — The Chairman of Transitional Puntland Electoral Commission, Guled Salah, today handed certificates to Puntland political associations that had met the criteria to contest pilot local elections to be conducted in 2021.

“All political associations will have an equal access to the government-run media; they can organise rallies, have the right not to be banned in addition to the right to lodge complaints against the Transitional Puntland Electoral Commission” said Salah.

Guled: Puntland political associations will have an equal access to the government-run media

TPEC has not issued guidance against the possible use of public coffers by the political association of the incumbent government. There is no guidance against the use of public money by political associations in Puntland. How equal access to the government-media can materialise is unclear.

Puntland Radio and Television Stations operate as the mouthpiece of the Puntland State Government. Journalists are denied attending meetings and conferences organised by the government, the sole distributor of government-related news to websites.

Some observers believe that it is the responsibility of political associations to put their heads together and work out a strategy that will ensure an equal access for political associations to the government media.

“TPEC statement is a progress that political stakeholders will have to refine before local elections take place” Mursal Ali, a political commentator in Garowe, told Puntland Post.

© Puntland Post, 2020

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