(1) The acceptance, by the constituency electoral bureau, of a candidature can be challenged by the citizens, political parties, political and electoral alliances, within 48 hours, at the most, from the date the candidature is posted.
(2) Dismissal, by the constituency electoral bureau, of a candidature, can be challenged by the candidate, the political parties, political and electoral alliances having made the respective proposal, within 48 hours, at the most, from the date the candidature dismissal is posted.
(3) Challenges must include the surname and first name, address and capacity of the dissenter, the surname and first name of the person whose candidature was accepted or dismissed, a presentation of the grounds of the challenge, the date and signature of the dissenter and the indication, where appropriate, of the person appointed to represent the dissenter.
(4) The challenge and, where appropriate, the request for appeal, shall be filed with the court competent to settle them, under penalty of nullity.
(5) Challenges concerning the acceptance or dismissal of candidatures shall be settled within 48 hours from their registration, by the court of first instance, respectively the county court in whose territorial jurisdiction the electoral constituency is located. The ruling shall not be notified.
(6) An appeal can be lodged against the ruling issued following the challenge, within 24 hours from its issuance, with the hierarchically superior court. The appeal shall be settled within 24 hours from its registration.
(7) The ruling issued following the appeal is final.
(8) The courts of law competent to settle the challenges lodged against the decisions of acceptance or dismissal of a candidature by the constituency electoral bureau shall take the necessary measures to forthwith communicate the final ruling, after the expiry of the mandatory deadlines referred to in paragraphs (5) and (6), to the constituency electoral bureau having issued the decision challenged, for the finalisation of the candidatures.
