Lusa unions urge parliamentary revision of agency statutes

Labor unions and journalists' representatives have called upon the Portuguese Parliament to revise the statutes of the Lusa news agency, arguing that current regulations fail to guarantee editorial independence and a governance model free from political influence.

During hearings before the Parliamentary Commission on Culture, Communication, Youth and Sport, representatives from the Lusa Workers' Commission and the Journalists' Union (SJ) highlighted several critical issues. The SJ president, Luís Filipe Simões, stated that the statutes are “feridos de ilegalidade” (tainted by illegality) because they allow the government to appoint the Board of Directors directly without public scrutiny and create a Consultative Council that could be dominated by political power.

Concerns were also raised regarding the requirement for the Information Directorate to appear before the Assembly of the Republic, which critics view as a sign that journalists are being held accountable to legislative powers. Unions emphasized that the current framework lacks transparency and failed to consult worker representatives during its drafting, potentially risking infringement proceedings regarding European press freedom standards.