He Government of the president of Argentinathe rightist Javier Mileiblocked press access to the headquarters of the Executive in an unprecedented decision that was repudiated by journalists, the media and the political opposition.
Without prior notice, the Government disabled fingerprint registration that allowed some 60 journalists accredited from different national and foreign media enter the Pink Househeadquarters of Executiveto carry out his daily informative work in the press room.
The decision was adopted shortly after the Government denounced in the Justice to journalists Luciana Geuna and Ignacio Salerno, from the local television channel Todo Noticias (TN), for an alleged security breach at the Casa Rosada by recording images of the interior of the building and then broadcasting them in a program about the inmates within the Executive.
“The decision to remove fingerprints from accredited journalists of Pink House was taken preventively in response to the complaint of Military House (in charge of presidential custody) by illegal espionage. The sole purpose is to guarantee the national security“argued the Secretary of Media and Communication of Argentina, Javier Lanari, through the social network X.
After the controversial decision, Milei, who has a conflictive history with the press – including several complaints against journalists-, reaffirmed this Thursday on social networks his slogan “we don’t hate journalists enough” with messages like: “Being corrupt and violating security laws is not free. Someday the filthy garbage journalists (95%) will have to understand that They are not above the law“.
Rejection of media and journalists
The Association of Argentine Journalistic Entities (ADEPA), which brings together 180 journalistic companies, expressed in a statement its “utmost concern“before the decision”untimely” of the Government “that does not recognize antecedents in Argentine democratic life” and that “directly impacts freedom of expression and the right to information.”
Also the Argentine Journalism Forum (FOPEA) and the Buenos Aires Press Union (SiPreBa) repudiated the measure “of extreme institutional gravity“.
“Until now, we have not had any official communication about why the Secretary General of the Presidency, Karina Milei (sister and right hand of the president) decided ban journalists from entering and arbitrarily close the room. Never in democratic history something of this caliber happened,” Tatiana Scorciapino, a journalist for the newspaper, told EFE. Argentine Weather accredited in Pink House.
The accredited journalists affected by the measure plan to file an action for protection in court.
Opposition asks for explanations
A dozen deputies from various opposition blocs went to the doors of the government headquarters to express their solidarity with the journalists and presented a note addressed to those responsible for Military House and the Media Secretariat to urgently request explanations.
At the doors of the Pink Housedeputy Mónica Frade, from the ARI Civic Coalition and one of the signatories of the note, told EFE that “this Government does not resist the press being nearby.”
“Many things are being revealed about this Government, which it needs to hide. So the press is a factor for the Government.” absolute annoyance and risk. It is unsustainable for the deputies of all the blocks, except the officialdomaccept that the Government does this,” said Frade.
The opposition deputy Marcela Pagano He filed a criminal complaint against Milei for preventing journalists from entering.
Pagano, a journalist by profession and who until last August was a member of the official bloc in the Lower Housewarned on social networks that “the prohibition of the exercise of freedom of expression of journalists is the first step to silencing any dissident voice.”
Amnesty Internationalwhich also questioned the government measure, warned in X that “the deterioration of the environment for the exercise of freedom of expression and of journalism In Argentina it is fast and sustained.”
“He climate of intolerance towards criticism, stigmatization and harassment of the press, in two years of the current president’s administration, it has become a policy of State“, warned the organization.