Portuguese PM: Not to participate in televised debate before elections

Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho announced on Friday that he will not take part in a televised debate before the general elections, due to Deputy Prime Minister Paulo Portas being excluded from participation.

"Faced with a firm refusal by the PS (Socialist Party) and the PCP (Communist Party) for the CDS (Popular Party) to participate in the debate, we consider that the basic rules of pluralism are not being respected ..." the ruling coalition said in a statement, according to local media.

The ruling coalition met with media representatives on Thursday and said that it did not veto anyone's participation in the debate, and therefore it could "not accept vetoes of any political force with parliamentary representation to participate."

The Portuguese elections are taking place on Oct. 4 and there has been controversy surrounding its coverage, with the government recently telling the media it had to present their election coverage plans to be approved.