"Due to the national election commission and the courts recently adopting a strict interpretation of a post revolutionary law mandating the media to give every candidacy "equal treatment", campaign coverage has been notably absent from televisions: as it's not viable to cover every candidacy as required by the CNE and the courts, giving them the exact same air time - including those that will get below 1% of the vote. Therefore, tv channels, including the state channel, decided to limit their coverage to national leaders campaign speeches (and editing out any mentions to local aspects) and the broadcast of generic pieces on the municipalities but without mentioning the candidates, parties or any horserace aspects. Debates without the inclusion of every list were also forbidden so only Porto's regional tv and a few regional radio stations organized them. Paid mail, phone calls and sms messages were also deemed illegal -as some lists have more money to campaign expenditures than others and that would be unfair and unequal - and the CNE went as far as fining Facebook for allowing sponsored posts from candidacies (they're trying to figure out how to send FB the fine - I wish I was making this up, but I'm not, try googling 'autarquicas facebook multa'). Even a live tv interview with the PM that was scheduled a few weeks ago was forbidden under the same rational of "equal treatment". "
Ahahahah couldn't believe it when I first read it...
How on earth do they campaign? Does the Prime Minister spend the whole time knocking on doors?
