Portugal’s National Electoral Commission (CNE) has referred a series of complaints about André Ventura’s political posters, which make reference to Bangladesh and the Roma community, to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, arguing that such materials may exceed the legal limits of political propaganda.
Speaking to the Lusa news agency, CNE spokesperson André Wemans confirmed that the body had received dozens of complaints against Ventura’s campaign posters, accusing them of spreading xenophobic messages and inciting racial hatred.
“Our obligation, given that these are potential public crimes and that formal complaints have been made, is to forward them to the Public Prosecutor,” Wemans stated.
In its official ruling, seen by press, the CNE noted that, as the presidential elections have not yet been formally called, it lacks jurisdiction to intervene outside the electoral period. The complaints were therefore referred to the Public Prosecutor to determine whether any criminal offence has been committed.
The two posters in question carry the slogans “This isn’t Bangladesh” and “The Roma must obey the law.”
While affirming that “the right to conduct political advertising” is protected as part of freedom of expression, the CNE stressed that its content is “naturally subject to certain limits” set out in the Penal Code.
The commission noted that the posters “explicitly and concretely refer to one group of people based on their origin, and another based on their ethnicity.”
It further stated that there are situations where “the specific content” of campaign materials can be examined, particularly where there may be defamation, offences against democratic institutions, incitement to disorder, or hate speech.
“The broad scope of freedom of expression finds its limit where it threatens the essence of another right or intolerably offends social morality or the fundamental principles of constitutional order,” the CNE concluded.
Eight Roma associations have announced plans to file complaints with the Public Prosecutor and are considering seeking a court injunction to have the posters removed.
The Socialist Party (PS) has also urged the Public Prosecutor to intervene and apply any necessary sanctions.
Presidential candidate and Chega leader André Ventura has refused to withdraw the posters, insisting that they are an exercise of his right to free expression.
