The National Electoral Commission clarified this Wednesday in a statement and after receiving several complaints about a poster about victims of sexual violence removed by the municipality of Oeiras, that the municipalities “do not have the power to regulate the exercise of freedom of propaganda.” .
According to the communiqué, propaganda activities “are free of charge and can be carried out at any time in public places, especially in public places of the state and other public organizations.” The law requires a careful interpretation of the term “occupation of public space by advertising”.
It should be recalled that one of the three posters denouncing the sexual abuse of children in the Portuguese Church, posted in Alges, was removed by order of the municipality of Oeiras as “illegal advertising”. The posters in question had the phrase “More than 4,800 children abused by the Catholic Church in Portugal” written in English, illustrated with 4,800 dots representing each of the victims.