The National Electoral Commission (CNE) has determined that there was no violation of neutrality duties in two complaints filed by the socialists on March 22. The CNE’s deliberation, accessed by Lusa, cleared both the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Board of Directors of Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) alongside the mayor of Tondela.
The complaints centered around invitations to the presentation session of the Forest Intervention Plan and the signing ceremony for the IP3 project — Santa Comba Dão/Viseu section — both attended by the Prime Minister. The socialists claimed these were acts of institutional publicity, prohibited following the dissolution of parliament and the announcement of election dates.
Regarding the complaint against the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the CNE argued that the event did not indicate a breach of neutrality or impartiality duties. The invitation lacked elements such as “slogans, commendatory messages, or praises of the issuer’s actions.”
The CNE also noted that it is “reasonable to presume” the invitations were sent before the attendance confirmations were finalized, and thus before the prohibition of institutional publicity became applicable.
In the case involving Tondela’s mayor and the IP Board of Directors, the CNE decided to dismiss the complaint, despite abstentions from Fernando Anastácio, João Almeida, and André Wemans. The commission found no compromise of neutrality duties by any entities involved.
“It was decided, by a majority, to archive the process, stating that there was no violation of neutrality duties by the public entities that promoted the initiative,” the minutes accessed by Lusa read.
