“A measure that doesn't make a lot of sense”. This is how Jorge Botelho, president of AMAL – Comunidade Intermunicipal do Algarve, an entity that brings together the 16 councils in the region, reacts to the ban to the municipalities, decreed by the National Elections Commission (CNE), to announce works, programs and acts until the European Elections of 26 May.
This Thursday, March 7, the CNE released an information note describing this ban. The measure came into force "from the publication of the decree that marks the date of the elections, in this case, from 26/02/2019", it reads.
However, the prohibition covers "institutional publicity by the organs of the State and the Public Administration of acts, programs, works or services, except in cases of serious and urgent public need".
According to the CNE, "all forms of communication with the outside world" are covered, such as the "municipal water billing magazine", Facebook or the traditional billboards. In other words: basically, the Municipal Councils cannot announce almost anything, also to the media.
"The foundation of the prohibition enshrined in this article is inscribed in the duties of neutrality and impartiality to which public entities are subject", explains the CNE.
The decision comes to try to “prevent that, as a result of the promotion of bodies or services and of their action or of their holders, some candidacies can be objectively favored over others”.
Heard by Sul Informação, Jorge Botelho said that the Algarve's mayors do not “understand this limitation”. “We are not candidates. We have a focus on populations and nothing else», he considered.
“The news is neither good nor bad. It's the law. We will comply, but we may disagree. The mayors want to do the work, carry out the planned interventions. We don't care if we announce it or not, but, within this framework, we think it is a measure that doesn't make much sense», he considered to our newspaper.
It is certain that this prohibition has already led to the cancellation of the inauguration of the new car park in Vilamoura, ceremony that was scheduled for this Friday, March 8th.
Ao Sul Informação, Vítor Aleixo, mayor of Loulé, confirmed that it was “the law that made us postpone the event”.
“The law is to be respected. Let's stop advertising projects, inaugurating works. It is an embarrassment, not least because we have a duty to inform people, but the work in Loulé will continue», he said.
This Friday, March 8th, there was an AMAL meeting, in Faro, with the presence of the Secretary of State for Economy, but this matter was not discussed formally.
“We exchanged impressions, but we didn't take any position. We can do it in a few days, but it is not planned», Jorge Botelho told our newspaper.
Despite the dispute, the law "will be complied with", guaranteed the AMAL president, by way of conclusion.
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