The National Election Commission held a meeting for all the commissioners to attend on May 21, where its commissioners have decided that a head of local government who is also a candidate for intra-party primary may engage in election campaign.

The decision made by the NEC is of significance in clarifying the following:

It is not against the law that a current mayor or a provincial governor registered as a candidate in intra-party primary to decide candidacy for presidential election may engage in election campaign.

According to the NEC, its commissioners have made this decision taking into consideration the following facts:

In accordance with the Article 57-6, Clause 1 of the Public Official Election Act newly enacted on January 25, 2010, public officials are not permitted to get involved in intra-party competition campaign. However, heads of local government may take part in intra-party primary as candidates for public official elections. It would be against fairness if only heads of local government competing in intra-party primary are prohibited from engaging in election campaign. Also, heads of local government are supposed to be prohibited from participating in election campaign for public official election however, those registered as candidates for elections for heads of local government are permitted to do election campaign. Meanwhile, in the case anyone turns out to have taken advantage of his/her position as a head of local government in election campaign, the person concerned shall be given severe punishment.