Portugal’s national election commission on Wednesday called for a probe into the appearance of round red stickers on the noses of party leaders on election billboards.
The large stickers, which resemble the bright noses worn by clowns, first appeared in Lisbon last week but became especially prominent in the Portuguese capital over the weekend.
The commission asked the public prosecutor’s office to investigate the stunt after analysing newspaper photographs of the altered posters.
“The commission laments the lack of civility and believes this is a punishable crime,” it said in a statement.
Police said they have no idea who is responsible for the red-nose campaign and have beefed up their surveillance of the billboards ahead of next month’s general elections.
In many cases, a ladder would have been needed to reach the billboards, which line main avenues and tower over busy squares.
Of the five parties with representation in Parliament, only the Communist Party was spared.
Among the posters belonging to the main opposition Socialist Party that were defaced was one which stands outside of the party’s headquarters, next to a police station. — AFP