“There were no grounds for the reasons previously stated,” said the deputy after the hearing in the parliamentary Culture, Communication, Youth, and Sports committee, which included the former RTP television information director, dismissed in June, following a PS request.
António José Teixeira stated today that his dismissal reasons were those communicated by the administration, namely the need for renewal and restructuring.
“It is very clear that the previously stated reasons do not exist since the reasons given by the administration were the results, particularly those of the RTP3 information channel,” said the deputy to journalists after the hearing.
However, upon scrutiny, reports reveal that the results for RTP3 are not worse than before and have withstood better than the competition. RTP includes more than RTP3, with most of its information being on RTP1 and other platforms,” continued Porfírio Silva when questioned if the PS had been clarified by this hearing.
The PS deputy highlighted three points deserving attention.
“Firstly, it seems that for PSD, the independence of public service information is a political game, which is concerning, perhaps not surprising given recent comments, but worrisome,” he pointed out.
Secondly, “it is clear that both the dismissal process and the appointment process of the information direction did not follow legal procedures and are out of time,” he noted.
Thirdly, with clarity following this procedure, and with the president of the Board coming to the Assembly at our request, today we know the justification given for dismissing the information direction does not exist,” he stated to journalists.
In other words, “the initially presented justification regarding results, with alleged low results, did not happen. The alleged reason does not exist, and it is more important than ever to clarify what led to this dismissal attempt,” he said.
The RTP Board hearing, led by Nicolau Santos, is not yet scheduled.
“The reasons for dismissal are those communicated to me,” said António José Teixeira, who repeatedly mentioned the “need for renewal” and “restructuring” during the hour-long hearing.
“I cannot speculate about these reasons; I leave that to those more qualified to respond,” he continued.
António José Teixeira, who has been heard by the Regulatory Entity for Social Communication (ERC) due to his dismissal, stated the Board’s decision is legitimate and that “mandates are not eternal.”
The journalist recounted being informed of his dismissal on June 23, the day before the decision became known.
During the hearing, he repeatedly noted that RTP3’s viewership “has not decreased” over the last three years.
António José Teixeira had been the director of RTP information for over five years, assuming the position on January 7, 2020.
Subsequently, on July 1, RTP’s president asserted that the decision regarding his dismissal was solely the Board’s competence and dismissed any political interference.
“Companies have cycles, and António José Teixeira and his team did a fantastic job,” emphasized Nicolau Santos at that time.
