The coordinator of the Movement for Citizenship Against Indifference, Paulo Sousa, has expressed his astonishment at the decision made by the National Election Commission (CNE) and has since appealed to the court.
“The message on our t-shirts is identical to the one delivered by the President of the Republic yesterday [Saturday] and what various party leaders are saying today. The CNE itself placed a similar notice in newspapers. It merely encourages turnout in our ongoing campaign against abstention,” he stated.
The front of the t-shirts bears the slogan “On the next 18th, do as I do. Vote.”
On the back, it reads, “Voting is our power. Fight abstention. Vote.”
Sousa noted that he sought a CNE opinion not due to doubts about the legitimacy of the t-shirts but to be prepared if challenged by any authority or citizen.
In its reply, which was accessed by Lusa, the CNE indicated that on the eve and the day of elections, “the law prohibits any type of electoral propaganda, even indirect.”
The commission further added that “considering the context (such as a person linked to a certain candidacy or political ideology, association with slogans used by candidates),” the t-shirts could be perceived “as an attempt to influence voting” and thus violate election law.
Sousa emphasized that the movement he leads “is known for maintaining equidistance from all political forces” and that “such impartiality has enabled it to develop vigorous civic activity” over its four-year history.
Consequently, the movement has appealed to the court, requesting the duty judge in the Braga district to overturn the CNE’s decision, although a response is yet awaited.
