BE threatens to take precautions if TVs collide between PS and AD

This Monday, BE threatened to take precautions if broadcasters insisted on holding a face-to-face meeting between PS and AD only as part of the European election campaign, deeming it would be “clearly illegal.”

“The proposal to hold a face-to-face debate between the PS and the AD is unacceptable and, in our opinion, should be withdrawn. Otherwise, given the obvious illegality confirmed by previous decisions of the CNE [Comissão Nacional de Eleições] and ERC [Entidade Reguladora para a Comunicação Social]“The Left Bloc will take precautions so that this debate can be held in accordance with the law,” said a response sent by BE to TV channels to which Lusa had access.

In the email, the blockers believe that “a model of face-to-face debates between different candidates would be the most inclusive, democratic and instructive”, regretting that PS and AD abandoned the 28 debates originally proposed by television.

The new proposal for debates on the European elections, sent to the parties on Sunday on television, envisages three debates with the participation of all forces with seats in parliament and one face-to-face debate with the PS and the Democratic Alliance (SDP, CDU-NP and PPM), they said in this Monday. -Friday for Lusa party sources.

In its response, BU argues that replacing the original model with “three debates between eight candidates, which does not allow for such in-depth specification of each party’s election proposals, is consistent with the principles established by law,” but “the same cannot be done.” Let’s say about the proposal to hold a single confrontation between PS and AD.”

“This proposal is unacceptable for two reasons. First, because it limits democratic debate in favor of candidates who have made the democratic model of debate unworkable. Secondly, because doing it during an election period would constitute a clear violation of the law. “, it is saved in the email.

BE returns to 2021 and recalls that then “TVI decided to hold a debate between PS and PSD candidates for the Lisbon City Council”, respectively Fernando Medina and Carlos Moedas.

At the time, the Social Communications Regulatory Authority (ERC) upheld the CDU and BE’s complaints against TVI for excluding these parties from pre-election debates in the Lisbon Chamber for the September 2021 local elections.

BE recalls that the media regulator then decided that TVI “in the future” should refrain from holding debates between candidates during election periods in violation of the legal regime for journalistic coverage during election periods, “in particular by favoring certain candidates over others, especially if they meet the criteria for political and social representation provided by law.”

“We do not understand that three TV channels are proposing to replicate a model that, in addition to violating the law, also contradicts the decisions of the regulator,” the text says.

In the same email, BE says it is available for debates that are “consistent with the legal obligations to which the media are subject during election periods.”