CASTELLS v. SPAIN JUDGMENT 18 draws attention to their preoccupations and defends their interests. Accordingly, interferences with the freedom of expression of an opposition member of parliament, like the applicant, call for the closest scrutiny on the part of the Court. 43. In the case under review Mr Castells did not express his opinion from the senate floor, as he might have done without fear of sanctions, but chose to do so in a periodical. That does not mean, however, that he lost his right to criticise the Government. In this respect, the pre-eminent role of the press in a State governed by the rule of law must not be forgotten. Although it must not overstep various bounds set, inter alia, for the prevention of disorder and the protection of the reputation of others, it is nevertheless incumbent on it to impart information and ideas on political questions and on other matters of public interest (see, mutatis mutandis, the Sunday Times v. the United Kingdom judgment of 26 April 1979, Series A no. 30, p. 40, para. 65, and the Observer and Guardian judgment, cited above, Series A no. 216, p. 30, para. 59 (b)). Freedom of the press affords the public one of the best means of discovering and forming an opinion of the ideas and attitudes of their political leaders. In particular, it gives politicians the opportunity to reflect and comment on the preoccupations of public opinion; it thus enables everyone to participate in the free political debate which is at the very core of the concept of a democratic society (see the Lingens v. Austria judgment of 8 July 1986, Series A no. 103, p. 26, para. 42). 44. In its judgment of 31 October 1983, the Supreme Court took the view that the contested article had crossed over the line between political criticism and insult, albeit only slightly, by its use of certain terms (see paragraph 13 above). 45. The Court observes, like the Commission, that Mr Castells began by denouncing the impunity enjoyed by the members of various extremist groups, the perpetrators of numerous attacks in the Basque Country since 1977. He thereby recounted facts of great interest to the public opinion of this region, where the majority of the copies of the periodical in question were sold. In his conclusion, however, he levelled serious accusations against the Government, which in his view was responsible for the situation which had arisen (see paragraph 7 above). 46. The freedom of political debate is undoubtedly not absolute in nature. A Contracting State may make it subject to certain "restrictions" or "penalties", but it is for the Court to give a final ruling on the compatibility of such measures with the freedom of expression enshrined in Article 10 (art. 10) (see, mutatis mutandis, the Observer and Guardian judgment, cited above, Series A no. 216, para. 59 (c)). The limits of permissible criticism are wider with regard to the Government than in relation to a private citizen, or even a politician. In a democratic system the actions or omissions of the Government must be