Pedro Frazão, through a statement posted on social media, threatened to shut down the Portuguese news agency, Agência Ecclesial, when the Chega party comes to power. In the post, which includes several insults directed at the journalists, Frazão accuses the agency of doing "propaganda," denouncing what he considers favorable editorial alignment with other political forces.
The agency's workers reacted to this threat and asked for a clear position from the Minister of National Defense, Aguiar-Branco, who oversees the agency as a state business sector company. The concern is related to the fact that the threat arises in a political context where Chega has been gaining strength in the polls and is discussing possibilities of joining future governments.
The agency, which is the main source of news for media outlets in Portugal, functions as an essential public service for the country's media ecosystem. Any attempt to close it down or direct political interference in its activity would be seen as an attack on press freedom and media pluralism.
This situation arises at a time of growing political tension in Portugal, with the far-right party Chega positioning itself as a relevant force in the national political landscape, which raises concerns about the future of independent media in the country.
