Issue
Establishment, Regulation of, and Membership in Political Parties
Election Parts
Criteria
- Regulations and deadlines for legal recognition of political parties were clearly specified. Registration requirements were not so stringent that they jeopardized freedom of association
- Individual electoral rights could be enjoyed in community with others
- Political organizations were treated equally in being recognized and registering as a party
- The grounds for rejecting registration of a party were based on objective criteria
- Citizens were able to establish and participate in political parties and other associations
Summaries
- Association with a political party must be voluntary.
- Particular individual electoral rights should be extended to associations and political parties.
- Freedom of association may be restricted only in limited cases, including in the interest of public safety/order.
- Political parties should be assured that they will be able to compete with each other on an equal basis before the law.
- Everyone has the right to association.
- Deadlines for applications for legal recognition should be clearly specified.
- Lawful restrictions of this freedom may also be placed on members of the armed forces and the police.
- Everyone has the right to establish a political party.
- Discrimination must not be practiced based on race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity and expression, migrant, refugee, repatriate, stateless or internally displaced status, genetic trait, mental or physical health condition, including infectious contagious condition and debilitating psychological condition, or other status at any time.
- Freedom of association may be restricted only in limited cases, including in the interest of national security.
- All individuals and groups should have the right to establish their own political parties or political organizations on equal terms.
- Regardless of their ideological position, political parties should be treated equally in being recognized and registering as a party.
- Political parties may be required to register with election authorities when contesting the election. The grounds for rejecting a registration application should be based on objective criteria.
- Freedom of association may be restricted under certain circumstances as are prescribed by law and necessary in a democratic society.
- Requirements for legal recognition should be clearly specified and realistic.
- Freedom of association may be restricted only in limited cases, including in the interest of protecting the rights and freedoms of others.
- Freedom of association may be restricted only in limited cases, including in the interests of public health or morals.
- While some regulation to foster transparency and democratic practices by political parties may be acceptable, parties should generally be free to determine their internal policies.
- Parties must be granted an opportunity to challenge state decisions restricting their activities or formation.
- States should legally recognize political parties for the effective exercise of related civil and political rights.
- Everyone has the right to associate with a political party.