“Given the importance of RTP’s operations at the current time and the need to ensure impartial, accurate, and diverse information, the Parliamentary Group of Livre considers it extremely important to urgently hear from RTP’s Board of Directors about these changes and the future of the public radio and television company,” states the request.
Livre argues that the resignation of António José Teixeira from the position of information director, along with “all members” of that direction, was done by the public media group’s board of directors “without any explanation.”
The party highlights that the Journalists Union (SJ) believes that the changes in RTP’s direction do not respect journalists’ right to participate.
At issue is the departure of António José Teixeira from the public broadcaster’s information direction and the appointment of Vítor Gonçalves to the position, reportedly without consulting the Editorial Board, as required by the Journalist’s Statute (Article 13) and the Television Law (Article 35).
RTP states that there was no illegality, referring the matter to the law after the public television’s Editorial Board criticized not being consulted on the dismissal of the information direction (DI).
Vítor Gonçalves, 56, is the new information director of RTP, replacing António José Teixeira.
The journalist has been with RTP for 33 years and has served as deputy director and correspondent for the public television in Washington. He currently hosts the program Grande Entrevista on Wednesdays on RTP3.
The PS parliamentary group requested this morning the hearing of the RTP’s Board of Directors in parliament, considering it strange that changes in the information direction coincide with the start of a new legislative session.
