Enough, IL and CDU this Monday rejected the introduction of restrictions on freedom of expression, disagreeing on solutions to combat disinformation, and PAN defended the need for a “red line” regarding hate speech.
The leaders of the Cega lists, the Liberal Initiative, the HDZ (the coalition uniting PCP and PEV) and the PAN met this Monday in the fourth televised debate before the European elections on June 9, broadcast on SIC and SIC Notícias.
One of the topics discussed was the fight against freedom of expression and the fight against disinformation. The PAN candidate defended investment in “innovation and technology,” including the use of artificial intelligence to “detect, track and stop all this disinformation, much of it created by the far right.”
Asked how a balance can be guaranteed between freedom of expression and the fight against disinformation, Pedro Fidalgo Márquez said that “there must be a red line in hate speech, because hate speech kills.”
“We must ensure that hate speech, discriminatory speech, speech that puts minorities, people, sectors, etc. behind and to the side” are not spread.
The leader of the list, Chegi, said that “freedom of speech cannot have boundaries, there are no boundaries here, they either exist or they don’t.”
António Tangier Correa complained that Chega’s speech was seen as “bad and should be attacked and ostracized”, criticized anyone who wants to draw red lines, and considered such attitudes “hate speech”.
Noting that “minorities cannot question the majority,” the candidate said that “minorities are taking over political discourse and social ideology” with “woke” agendas and other types of radicalism that are harmful to the evolution of democracies.”
Regarding IL, João Cotrim de Figueiredo warned that one could “risk limiting people’s self-expression in order to combat disinformation.”
The Liberal candidate believes the solution involves “a much greater investment in open discourse about what information is circulating, in ‘fact checking’.” [verificação de factos]who has played a critical role in exposing disinformation and technology.”
The head of the CDU list said the fight against disinformation and fake news involves “deepening democracy” and empowering citizens “to be full and critical human beings, capable of reflecting on the world around them,” and rejected “censorship, restrictions on individual rights and social rights.”
“Even the method of “fact checking” solves little; it is a state secretariat of truth,” criticized João Oliveira.
During this debate, the candidates also expressed their views on defense and the war in Ukraine.
The head of the CDU list considered that “the world already spends too much money on weapons, it was necessary to spend more money on peace” and that “diverting resources to the defense industry” “increases the danger of war.”
Asked whether Russia’s victory in the war posed a threat to Europe, he replied: “I believe in Russia’s plans to control Europe as much as I believe in Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction. This speech is designed to spark a war.”
João Cotrim de Figueiredo described the vision as “lyrical and irresponsible”.
“As long as there are tyrants and tyrants, imperialists, aggressive, bloodthirsty, ready to sacrifice their people and the people of others for the sake of personal missions, in the European and global space, the democratic and free world is obliged to defend itself,” he emphasized. Candidate IL.
António Tangier Correa stated that “Chega has never been pro-Russian” despite being part of a multi-party European political family, and was the first to indicate that the party’s position “from the very beginning” would be to support Ukraine, guaranteeing yet to come, that “they can count on Chega, who will defend Ukraine with all his heart.”
On behalf of PAN, Pedro Fidalgo Márquez said that Europe must be ready to support Ukraine and that there must be a “multinational rapid intervention force,” rejecting a single European army.
The list’s leader also proposed an “extraordinary contribution of excess defense industry profits to provide humanitarian and environmental support” to the country.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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