Praia, March 24, 2025 (Lusa) - Cabo Verde's Media Regulatory Authority (ARC) has denied that the public radio station discriminated or violated the principles of exemption and pluralism, in response to a complaint from the ruling Movement for Democracy (MpD).
"Rádio de Cabo Verde did not infringe the legal precepts of non-discriminatory treatment or the principles of exemption and pluralism," in the case of the Café Central programme on 15 January, reads the resolution, to which Lusa had access on Monday.
"The choice of themes and guests falls within the editorial autonomy of the media, and should be assessed as a whole and not just on the basis of isolated episodes," it states.
The decision, taken unanimously by the five members of the ARC Regulatory Council, does, however, leave a request and a recommendation to Rádio de Cabo Verde (RCV).
The regulatory authority urges the radio station to strengthen "internal mechanisms to guarantee greater rigour, transparency and balance in the choice of analysts, in line with its editorial statute".
The ARC also recommends that "respect for rights, freedoms and guarantees" be observed and that the radio station act "to discourage statements that could compromise the balance and impartiality of the debate, especially with regard to value judgements that could be derogatory and potentially offensive to citizens or entities".
At issue were criticisms and accusations by an analyst (Alte Pinho) against the leader of the MpD and prime minister, Ulisses Correia e Silva, and Cabo Verdean political leaders, without ‘justification’ and with "certain expressions likely to jeopardise the rights, freedoms and guarantees" of those targeted.
"The public media service has a reinforced duty of impartiality and compliance with the best journalistic practices," reads the ARC's decision, which adds that “the interview could be interpreted as a deviation from the required standards of rigour and balance”.
In any case, the authority points out that "the law made available to the complainant other legal mechanisms for the defence of honour and consideration", such as "the right of reply, retraction or rectification".
The ARC's ruling concerns a case that originated two months ago.
In January, the MpD complained to the ARC about the choice of guests on public radio, accusing journalist Carlos Santos of "negative discriminatory treatment against the party and the head of government".
In the complaint, the party asked ARC for "recommendations and sanctions" in the face of a situation that "violates the principles of impartiality, pluralism and respect for citizens".
At the time, Carlos Santos responded with a complaint to the ARC against the secretary general of the MpD, Agostinho Lopes (the decision is expected to be made public), while the Cabo Verde Journalists Association (AJOC) said that the party's behaviour could be interpreted as an act of "intimidation and conditioning of press freedom".
The International Federation of Journalists also called on the ARC to protect rights and freedoms, rejecting the ruling party's complaint.
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