Government and socialist according to censor the press – Daily News – Lisbon

“Portugal celebrates 40 years of freedom of expression, but it seems that will not meet 41 years.” Thus begins the text of El País, reference newspaper in Spain, published Thursday evening, the purpose of the bill that will give this Friday entry in the National Assembly and reviewing the law of journalistic treatment of election campaigns . The most controversial issue concerns the imposition on Media sending a journalistic treatment plan before the start of pre-season. In Portugal, generated a wave of indignation within the media and social networks. The neighboring country was quick to react, highlighting the bill that requires not only the approval of an election coverage plan as the space devoted to opinion does not exceed the information.

“The Government and the Portuguese Socialists, according to censor the press, “headlines the El País . The text summarizes the main measures contained in the PSD of the bill, CDS-PP and PS, highlighting the “prior approval”. In practice, “censorship,” writes the newspaper, which will be applied to any type of content, “are news, reports, interviews or debates, and covers all types of media: written, radio, television, analog and digital” . For the first time, refers to the sections that publish online content will have to send their election coverage plans to political power.

El País also highlights sanctions by default, which can go up to 50 thousand euros, “other threats”. In an article by Javier Martín, correspondent in Lisbon, there is the “treachery” and the “speed unknown in this country” with the three major Portuguese parties were placed according to this bill, noting that the clear objective of leaders supporters is “to ensure media coverage to the proportionality argument in the current parliament,” to the detriment of minority parties without parliamentary representation.

The article closes with the only reaction known so far, the Free , which ranks the idea as an “unacceptable attack on freedom of expression.” In a statement quoted by El País , the party Rui Tavares argues that “it is not for political power safeguard the independent and free media.”