Rio de Janeiro, Aug 24 (IANS/EFE) Dozens of Brazilian comedians protested here against a ruling preventing people from imitating or satirising politicians running for office in October’s general elections.
Under regulations in force since 1997, it is not permitted to ‘use tricks, editing and other audio or video resources that, in some way, humiliate or ridicule a candidate, party or coalition’ on television and radio.
The comics who gathered Sunday at Rio’s world-famous Copacabana beach criticised the ‘anti-democratic’ nature of the law and made clear that they had not called the demonstration ‘to make jokes, but to fight for the right to do so’.
Bruno Mazzeo, a comedian on a well-known television programme, said that the measure preventing people from imitating presidential candidates is ‘as if they’re prohibiting talking about soccer during a World Cup’ and he noted that politicians ‘should have a better (sense of) humour’.
The protest, led by a number of famous TV personalities, received the support of hundreds of people.
