ADEPA highlighted the role of journalism, questioned the AFA’s harassment and warned against the government-sponsored new criminal code

The President of the Association of Argentine Journalistic Entities (ADEPA), Martin Etchevers, emphasized the role of “journalism” in democracy from the 1983 recovery to the present. And he warned of the need for “consensus” to put aside insults, intimidation and “personal disqualifications”.

“We would like to acknowledge the recent stance of the national government to call for dialogue and build bridges.” with other political forces, with the provinces, with various actors in society. “We also note your promise to avoid insults and attacks,” Etchevers told officials in the government of Javier Milei, the president of the Supreme Court, at the ADEPA 63rd anniversary dinner. Horacio Rosatti and opposition political leaders.

More than 300 guests listened to him, including the Chief of Staff, Manuel Adornithe ministers Sandra Pettovello And Diego Santillithe former minister and current senator Patricia Bullrichthe chairman of the Chamber of Deputies, Martin Menemamong other officials and government leaders.

In this regard, the President of ADEPA warned of the need to protect journalistic activities, given the official project to amend the Criminal Code.

“This legal architecture has allowed, in recent decades, the strengthening of investigative journalism and its role in fighting corruption and promoting transparency,” explained the President of ADEPA.

AND warned of the consequences of reversing the legal framework for press freedom. “The threat could affect all citizens, not just journalists,” but also “those who express their opinions on networks, those who criticize public decisions, and organizations that defend freedoms and rights.”

Etchevers pointed out the need to preserve, in the new criminal code being discussed in Congressthe doctrine of the Supreme Court and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, which led to legislative advances “first with the decriminalization of contempt and then with the abolition of prison sentences and the inclusion of the public interest figure as an exclusion of certain criminal typologies.”

The president of ADEPA questioned the harassment of journalists by the Argentine Football Association (AFA) authorities.

“Journalism does not want to be anyone’s enemy; it wants to do its job. The tension between the press and power exists by democratic definition and is unpleasant. But it need not or should not be traumatic. For this reason we are seriously concerned if We observe that journalists from other areas – such as football – are intimidated with abusive lawsuits or smear campaigns. “It turns out that the temptation to silence voices extends beyond politics to where power is considered unlimited,” Etchevers said.

In fact, last week, ADEPA released a statement expressing concern about “the increase in strategies and actions by sports leaders whose aim or effect may be the intimidation and silencing of journalists and media.”

In recent weeks, letters and documents, threats of legal action, multi-million dollar lawsuits and media campaigns against journalists by the AFA authorities have multiplied its President Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia and its Treasurer Pablo Toviggino, and their associated lawyers.

“What is most uncomfortable in the public sphere is not the insult, but the exposure of questionable facts and decisions, the revelation of inconvenient truths,” Etchevers said.

And he added: “Recent history is clear: Many of the investigations that are carried out in oral arguments today had their origins in the work of journalism. A journalism that was then demonized and harassed with the full force of the state apparatus. A journalism that does not judge or condemn. And it never replaces the work of a judicial authority governed by procedural safeguards and standards of evidence.”

“In light of these investigations, it is legitimate that those who feel that their image has been tarnished can claim this in court. On this point, local and international jurisprudence is clear: honor is protected, but it gives way to the interest of citizens in accessing relevant information,” Etchevers said at the annual ADEPA dinner.

He also emphasized the role of journalistic companies, which are responsible for giving journalism “organicity, consistency, editorial and legal responsibility; giving it resources and structure for support and dissemination; giving it scope and editorial importance, with the legitimate worldview of each individual.” The validity and sustainability of professional journalism is not a corporate problem: it is a democratic problem. Without them, the quality of public deliberations deteriorates.”

Finally, Etchevers assured that “digital advertising is now 80% in the hands of global digital platforms.” “It is necessary not to deepen existing imbalances and to restore lost balances.”

After Etchevers’ speech, a video was broadcast of the meeting of the ADEPA authorities with the judges of the Federal Chamber who tried the military juntas 40 years ago, presented by Luciana Geuna And Camila Perochena. The six judges who were part of the federal chamber that convicted the military juntas were honored there: Ricardo Gil Lavedra, Guillermo Ledesma, Jorge Valerga Aráoz and León Arslanian -they have already died Jorge Torlasco and Andrés D’Alessio-.

As part of the tribute to the judges who tried the military juntas, the President of the Supreme Court said: Horacio Rosattiwho noted that “this was an exceptional trial due to the category of judges and prosecutors who intervened and the previous work of Conadep.” He emphasized: “It was not a question of justice for the victors. The crimes were already provided for in the criminal code, the court was planned and the procedure was set. It was not a case of hidden revenge. It was an exemplary trial.”

“Judges who teach us today’s judges a lesson.”. Even in the most complex and difficult times, when democracy was at risk and in jeopardy and testimony could lead to a crisis, these judges showed that one must always do the right thing. And that’s what today’s judges have to learn. Even in critical conflict situations For example, you have to do the right thing in the fight against corruption. “This extraordinary lesson has been left to us by the judges who judged the military juntas,” Rosatti concluded.

Then the Milei government’s chief of staff stated: Manuel Adorni, which emphasized the value of “the truth”, “words” and “freedom of the press and expression”.

“We have a firm mission to make Argentina great again,” said Adorni. And that’s what he claimed “Journalists and political leaders alike have something in common.”our work depends on the relationship we have with the truth. Over the years and through different governments, all Argentines have become accustomed to the fact that politicians’ words are worthless. But one of the great achievements of this government has been to restore that bond. Milei is the first president in a long time to say he will pass “A”… and he passes “A.” “That’s right, the president has earned the right to be taken at his word.”

“The same philosophy applies to why we do not restrict journalism’s freedom of expression in any way. “Everyone is responsible for their own word,” said the chief of staff. And he clarified that “this does not mean the right to defame someone else’s reputation, because this is a crime.” “We feel comfortable with criticism, but not with lies.”

“It is not possible to build solid institutions without integrity and rigorous journalism,” said Adorni, who explained: “As long as I am chief of staff and Javier Milei is president, there will always be complete freedom to ask questions in the Argentine Republic. And that includes the journalists of the Casa Rosada, to whom I send my best regards.” Freedom of the press and freedom of expression are of fundamental importance to us, That is why we will always fight to defend them,” Adorni concluded.

The journalist hosted the annual ADEPA dinner Deborah Plager. It ended with the delivery ofl Grand Honorary Prize for Freedom of Expression to the Venezuelan leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Maria Corina Machado -who couldn’t attend, but the journalist honored her Carolina Amoroso-, already William Ignacioformer President of ADEPA who was honored Daniel Dessein And Jose Ignacio Lopez.

In addition to a large number of journalists and media managers, the Judge of the Supreme Court of Buenos Aires also attended the ADEPA dinner. Inés vineyard de Roca; the Minister of Media and Communications, Javier Lanari; the head of the government of Buenos Aires, Jorge Macri; the governors of Catamarca, Raul Jalil, and from San Juan, Marcelo Orrego; the head of the block of PRO deputies, Cristian Ritondo; the MPs Esteban Paulon (EF), Emilio Monzo (EF), Silvana Giudici (LLA) and Sebastian Pareja (LLA), among others.