ADN takes precautionary measure against television stations for not participating in debates for the European elections – Politics

The National Democratic Alternative (ADN) took precautionary measures against RTP, SIC and TVI because these television stations did not integrate the party in the television debates for the European elections on June 9, ADN announced.

In a statement, the ADN justifies the precautionary measure, considering that “the principles of impartiality, equality and political pluralism, basic principles, in the organization of electoral debates are not being respected”.

“Although ADN does not have a European parliamentary seat, the Chega, Initiative Liberal and Livre parties do not have one either, so the different behavior of the candidacies cannot be understood”, highlights the party.

The ADN emphasizes that the “criteria for journalistic decisions related to the participation of parties in television electoral debates cannot contradict the legal commands that implement constitutional principles, namely the Principle of Equal opportunities and treatment of different candidacies”.

In ADN’s understanding, editorial freedom on the part of the media cannot override constitutional norms.

The party recalls that in the Legislative elections of March 10, the ADN received more than one hundred thousand votes, “in other words, it had practically four times as many votes as the party immediately next placed, making it the only party with the right to public subsidy, but which still does not have representation in the Portuguese Parliament”.

In the party’s opinion, “it is an extreme violation of the principle of equal opportunities not to include the ADN party in the television debate program of parties entitled to public subsidy”.

Please also remember that in the European elections that took place on May 26, 2019, only the PS, PPD-PSD, BE, PCP-PEV, CDS-PP and PAN elected deputies to the European Parliament.

“Parties such as Chega, Initiative Liberal and Livre did not elect deputies in the previously mentioned election, as is common knowledge and are on equal terms with the ADN party in this regard”, states the party.

Former deputy Joana Amaral Dias is the head of the ADN list for the European elections, with the aim of obtaining at least one mandate in the European Parliament.

The elections for the European Parliament, in which voters from the 27 Member States choose the 720 deputies, take place between 6 and 9 June. In Portugal, voting is scheduled for the 9th, choosing the 21 national representatives in the European hemicycle.