Local Elections: Campaign Kicks Off Amid Strict Regulatory Oversight

On Thursday, the election campaign for the municipal and provincial polls scheduled for November 28 began. Over the next 20 days, more than 160,000 candidates will compete to convince the 24.2 million registered voters. The campaign operates under a strict legal framework designed to ensure equality, prohibiting hate speech, the use of foreign languages, and any exploitation of national identity. Promotional activities are restricted to authorized venues and local gatherings. To prevent illicit financial influence, authorities have mandated that funding come only from party contributions, personal resources, or individual citizen donations, with a total ban on foreign or corporate funding. Candidates are required to manage their budget through a single bank account and submit a financial report following the election.