The National Electoral Commission this Friday considered that the presentation of the IL’s electoral program for the legislative elections scheduled for Saturday constitutes “propaganda prohibited by law” since it takes place on the day of reflection of the Azores regions.
When asked by Lusa whether the National Electoral Commission, taking into account the election day in the Azores on Saturday, understands that the Liberal Initiative is not allowed to present its electoral program for the legislative elections on March 10, the organization replied that “The same political the force participates in the elections under the same acronym and the same symbol – the common initiatives promoting it are relevant for both elections.”
“On the other hand, the IL electoral program will of course not be announced with a clear indication that none of the proposed measures will be applied to the Autonomous Region of the Azores. Obviously, this is propaganda prohibited by law,” CNE claims.
Lusa also asked CNE about the initiatives of other parties planned for Saturday on the continent, namely whether they could also violate electoral law.
“Common sense and good will are sufficient because the question cannot be answered with a list or a simplified table. Activities of the same type that occur in Mirandela may or may not affect elections in the Azores for reasons that are not peculiar to them. “For example, a street rally in this place is unlikely to have an impact, even if there are explicit references to the Azores, because what is said and done there is not expected to reach the voting Azoreans,” the commission responded.
However, in the same discussion, the CNE emphasizes that if “someone gives it a greater dimension through the participation of a prominent national figure or other means, or creates the means to effectively expand its activities so that in the Azores it becomes known as If you vote, then already you are expected to be able to influence the decision of Azorean voters and are therefore subject to the ban.”
When asked by Lusa whether the media would be prohibited from covering the presentation of IL’s election program, CNE replied that “the prohibition stems from the rules applicable to the ALRAA elections.” [Assembleia Legislativa da Região Autónoma dos Açores] and it is within this framework that a legal solution must be sought.”
“This is activity promoting a candidacy at a prohibited time, and current law suggests that the dissemination of images and text about this activity is itself a prohibited activity. This ban does not seem to prevent the dissemination of information about this fact. from being given,” he adds in the same answer.
On Thursday, the Observador reported that the CNE had called a day of reflection for the Azores and the continent, which would jeopardize the presentation of IL’s electoral program for the March 10 legislative elections, scheduled precisely for Saturday.
That day, IL accused the CNE representative of “trying to dictate terms” and said it would continue presenting the electoral program to legislators that Saturday.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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