The National Electoral Commission (CNE) has sent a complaint to the Public Prosecutor’s Office over suspicions that the Regional Government of the Azores has violated its duty of impartiality and neutrality. The news was reported by Expresso newspaper.
At issue are publications on the official social networks of the Azorean executive (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM) made after scheduling early elections in the Azores for February 4, which, according to the CNE, violates the duty of impartiality and neutrality.
“The publications in question in the processes analyzed were promoted by the Regional Government of the Azores after the date of the election – December 11, 2023 – that is, at a time when that body and its holders were already subject to special duties of neutrality and impartiality,” reads the CNE’s decision, published by Expresso.
The investigation resulted from 10 complaints from the PS/Açores regarding publications which, according to the CNE, were intended to “convey a positive image” of the Azorean executive.
“While it is true that government activity is not interrupted by the start of an electoral process, it is more certain that it must be surrounded by greater caution in order to mitigate the natural imbalance that is generated between the holders of the bodies whose election is in question, and all the other candidates who do not have the same access to means of public exposure,” adds the CNE in its deliberation.
In its response to the CNE, the Azorean government claimed that it needed to publicize the investments financed by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR). Still, the National Electoral Commission concluded that the publications analyzed “do not highlight the relevant role of European funding or signal the financial support of the PRR and the European Union,” containing phrases such as “Government pays 100%”.
The CNE also warned the Regional Government to “refrain, in the future and until the end of the electoral process, from making statements, taking positions or carrying out acts that directly or indirectly favor or harm one candidacy to the detriment or advantage of others, or that in any way jeopardize compliance with the duties of neutrality and impartiality to which they are obliged.”

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Government will appeal
An official source from the Azorean executive told the DI newspaper that the government led by José Manuel Bolieiro “will appeal the CNE’s decision,” stressing that at this stage, “the indication to remove the publications in question from the government’s website will be complied with.”
“The Government of the Azores regrets that the act of informing the Azoreans is conditioned by the biased understanding of the PS, with a short memory, because in 2020, on the eve of the previous regional elections, the Socialist government advertised more and with more bias, in their own opinion,” he added.
The President of the Republic decided to dissolve the Legislative Assembly and schedule early elections for February 4, after the 2024 budget was rejected.

in Diário Insular, José Lourenço-director

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Cultures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance)  at California State University, Fresno–PBBI thanks the sponsorship of the Luso-American Development Foundation from Lisbon, Portugal (FLAD)