Political Freedom of Expression within Constitutional Guarantees and Proportionate Legal Restrictions
Keywords:
Political expression, freedom of opinion, freedom of expression, constitutional rights, criminal law, digital speech, proportionalityAbstract
Political freedom of expression is essential to democratic participation because it enables citizens to criticize public authorities, evaluate policies, and hold political power accountable. This article examines the legal construction of political expression and the application of criminal and digital communication rules that may restrict political criticism. The study employs doctrinal legal research by examining constitutional guarantees, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, legislation governing public expression and electronic communications, the national Criminal Code, and relevant Constitutional Court decisions. The synthesis shows that restrictions on political expression must satisfy legality, legitimate purpose, necessity, and proportionality. Recent constitutional jurisprudence has narrowed several potentially restrictive provisions. Government institutions, corporations, professions, and public offices cannot be treated as individual victims under the electronic defamation provision, while electronic hate-speech liability requires a real risk of discrimination, hostility, or violence. Constitutional jurisprudence has also limited prosecution of offences concerning presidential honour to complaints by the President or Vice President. These safeguards strengthen the distinction between legitimate political criticism and punishable harmful expression.
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