The Socialist Party parliamentary group has requested a parliamentary hearing with the RTP’s Board of Directors, citing concerns over changes in the information management coinciding with the start of a new legislative term.
The announcement was made by Socialist deputy Porfírio Silva at the Assembly of the Republic following a PS parliamentary group meeting.
The deputy emphasized the importance of information independence, expressing “some surprise and astonishment” over the “sudden change in RTP’s information management” aligning with the new legislative period.
“RTP’s Editorial Council already doubted whether the necessary legal processes were followed for this initiative,” he stated, emphasizing the need for RTP’s administration to provide clarification on whether there is a valid reason for the management change.
Porfírio Silva assured that the party does not intend to prejudge, refraining from speculating on the intentions of the executives, but noted the unexpected nature of this move, stating that “the coincidence between political and public radio and television service management schedules” warrants an explanation.
“The matter is serious, significant for Portuguese democracy. We must gather necessary data to assess the situation carefully, avoiding premature and potentially incorrect judgments,” he added.
The Journalists’ Union and the Telecommunications and Audiovisual Communication Workers’ Union accuse RTP’s management of violating legal obligations by replacing the information director without consulting the Editorial Council.
The issue centers on António José Teixeira’s departure from his role as head of the public broadcaster’s information department, with Vítor Gonçalves appointed as his successor. The unions claim a mandatory consultation was not sought from the Editorial Council as required by the Journalist Statute (Art. 13) and the Television Law (Art. 35).
RTP maintains that no legal breach occurred, referencing the law after the public television’s Editorial Council criticized the lack of consultation regarding the dismissal of the information management.
Vítor Gonçalves, 56, is appointed as the new director of information at RTP, succeeding António José Teixeira. The journalist has been with RTP for 33 years, previously serving as deputy director and as the public broadcaster’s correspondent in Washington. He currently hosts the program “Grande Entrevista” on RTP3, aired on Wednesdays.
TYRS (ALU/PD/LM) // ACL
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