The CNE indicates that it will continue to forward all complaints it receives related to the posters to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
About a week ago, the commission’s spokesperson, André Wemans, told Lusa that dozens of complaints had been received against André Ventura’s posters, denouncing xenophobic political messages and calls for racism.
“Our obligation, as these are public crimes, and once the complaint has been filed, is to always forward these complaints to the Public Prosecutor’s Office,” he said, considering that the content of political propaganda is subject to certain limits.
In the deliberation approved last week, the CNE argues that, since the presidential elections have not yet been officially scheduled, “it does not have the competence to intervene in this matter outside the electoral period”, therefore deciding to send the complaints to the MP so that it can “investigate the commission of any criminal offence”.
The CNE emphasizes at the time that, although “the right not to be prevented from carrying out propaganda actions” is “a corollary of freedom of expression”, the content of propaganda is “naturally subject to certain limits” provided for in the Penal Code.
Eight gypsy associations announced that they will file a complaint with the MP and are considering taking precautionary measures so that they can be removed. The PS also asked the MP to intervene to apply possible sanctions.
The candidate for President of the Republic and leader of Chega, André Ventura, refused to remove the posters, arguing that his freedom of expression was at stake.