Bakom: No unauthorized political advertising
The Federal Office of Communications (Bakom) has scrutinized radio and television programs hosted by candidates in the upcoming elections: «Filippos Politarena,» «CC Talk,» and «Zum Kaffee üs dum Schloss.» It has concluded that there is no evidence of unauthorized political financing and has therefore decided not to initiate supervisory proceedings regarding political advertising on radio and television.
The Radio and Television Act (RTVA) prohibits advertising for political parties and for people who hold or are candidates for political office. The Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) therefore examined three formats hosted by National Councillors or National Council candidates: "Filippos Politarena" on Sat.1 (Switzerland) and various regional television stations, hosted by Zurich FDP National Councillor and National Council candidate Filippo Leutenegger; "CC Talk" on Star TV, hosted by Zurich SVP Cantonal Councillor and National Council candidate Claudio Zanetti; "For coffee in the castle" on Radio Rottu, hosted by the President of the Municipality of Brig-Glis, CVP National Councillor and National Council candidate Viola Amherd.
According to OFCOM, no unauthorized cash flows took place in the aforementioned broadcasts. The broadcasts were neither financed by the candidates themselves nor by the parties for which they are standing, as stated in a press release issued on Thursday. There was also no sponsorship. For this reason, OFCOM sees no reason to take regulatory action in the cases mentioned.
Content not examined
The editorial content of the broadcasts was not assessed. The Independent Complaints Authority (Ubi) is responsible for content-related questions regarding appropriateness and diversity. Any complaints must be submitted there. Such an assessment is therefore only possible after the program has been broadcast and on the basis of a corresponding complaint.
At an earlier date, OFCOM had already examined the broadcasts "Schweizerzeit TV" on Switzerland 5 and "Das Blocher Prinzip" on Schaffhausen television and found no unauthorized cash flows.
