“The ERC [Portuguese Media Regulatory Entity] does not have the authority to determine who should represent a particular candidacy, nor can it decide which representative may or may not be accepted by television operators,” states the resolution ERC/2025/126, issued today.
As long as “the provisions of Law No. 72-A/2015, dated July 23, which establishes the legal framework for media coverage during election periods, are upheld,” the media regulator acknowledges the “legitimate expectation of the Livre party to debate with the leader of the PSD and the leading candidate of the PSD/CDS-PP coalition.”
The Regulatory Council clarifies in the resolution that “there is no legal impediment to the participation of both party leaders of the PSD/CDS-PP coalition in the debates,” noting that “the debate model was derived from a programming and scheduling agreement previously arranged among television operators and presented to the various candidacies.”
On April 1, Livre lodged a complaint with the National Election Commission (CNE) and the ERC against the PSD, RTP, SIC, and TVI concerning the televised debate model, arguing that it is disadvantaged.
“Livre is left with no choice but to file this complaint, requesting the intervention of the Media Regulatory Entity, through the National Election Commission, to restore legality and ensure respect for the principles of equality and fair treatment of the various candidacies,” according to the complaint accessed by Lusa.
In the document signed by Rui Tavares, the party contends that it has been placed at a “disadvantage” compared to other candidates after the PSD/CDS-PP coalition selected Nuno Melo instead of Luís Montenegro to debate with Livre, BE, and PAN on television.
From the party’s perspective, this model “violates the principle of equal opportunities for the various candidacies within the debates by treating them differently.”
Televised debates for the upcoming early legislative elections on May 18 commence today with the first face-offs between the leaders of AD and PCP on TVI, and between Chega and PAN on RTP3.
