Lisbon, Jan. 9, 2025 (Lusa) - Portugal's minister for parliamentary affairs on Thursday declared that the Lusa news agency is a key pillar of the country's democracy that strives for excellence in its work, and is a beacon to combat disinformation. 

"The Lusa agency is so often undervalued," said the minister, Pedro Duarte, in a debate in parliament on the subject of the media .  "Lusa is an extraordinary tool, a structuring pillar of our democracy. It is an agency that excels in excellence and a beacon for combating disinformation and the manipulation of facts." 

On the subject of RTP, Portugal's public broadcaster, he pointed out that its public service contract has not been reviewed for 10 years that, whereas under the law in force at least two should have been carried out during this period. 

Over the decade, he emphasised, the sector has undergone structural changes, but RTP has not changed "due to the mere passivity of those who were responsible." 

Duarte acknowledged that the current centre-right government is benefiting from some work that had already been done by its Socialist predecessor, citing as an example the white paper on the media sector. 

However, he emphasised that "the difficult part is taking a political decision" and that this had taken a lot of work. 

Last year, the government presented a Media Action Plan containing 30 measures in four areas: Regulation of the Sector, Public Service Concession, Incentives for the Sector, Combating Disinformation and Media Literacy. 

According to the minister of parliamentary affairs, this plan contains 29 measures on which there was general consensus, plus one that envisaged an end to advertising on RTP, which has been widely contested. 

Duarte welcomed the consensus that does exists, arguing that the plan does not belong to the government, one faction or one ideology, but to the country. 

EP/ARO // ARO.

Lusa