The standoff between Robert Iger, the president of Disney and Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida turns into a pitched battle. Earlier this month, Robert Iger denounced Mr. DeSantis’ decision to cut the benefits that Disney World in Orlando had enjoyed since the 1960s. The entertainment giant decided to take the matter to court and filed suit, Wednesday, April 26, against the Governor of Florida.
In its complaint, Walt Disney Parks and Resort accuses Mr. DeSantis of having orchestrated a veritable “campaign” to carry out “targeted government revenge” against him, to punish him for exercising his “freedom of speech”. This “now threatens Disney’s business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights,” the company argues.
Anti-trade and unconstitutional measure according to Disney
A major employer in the region with its Disney World amusement park in Orlando, the group was sanctioned by Mr. DeSantis who in February abolished Disney’s special status in his state, ending the advantages – administrative facilities, self-management of the site , advantageous loans, etc. – which the Disney World theme park had enjoyed since the 1960s.
Following the decision, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District appointed by Mr. DeSantis on Wednesday approved the cancellation of a recent business agreement with the park, which employs 75,000 people and attracts 50 million visitors per year.
In its complaint, Disney denounces “a retaliatory measure, manifestly anti-trade and manifestly unconstitutional”. The group believes it “has no choice but to pursue this legal action to protect its employees, customers and partners.” In early April, Disney boss Bob Iger had already publicly accused Ron DeSantis of taking an “anti-trade action” that violated the company’s “right to free speech.”
Disney plans to invest more than $17 billion in Disney World over the next decade, create more than 10,000 jobs and attract even more tourists to Florida, he said. “Any action to thwart these efforts simply in revenge for a position taken by the company seems not only anti-trade, but also anti-Florida,” Iger said.
The Disney boss drew a parallel with certain positions taken by American companies in favor of the struggle for civil rights in the United States in the 1960s.
Disney, too progressive for DeSantis
In mid-April the governor publicly considered building a “state prison” near Disney World, or a competing amusement park. He also mentioned the idea of putting in place additional taxes on the hotels on the site, or road tolls around. “I think the possibilities are endless,” he bravadoed at a press conference.
A figure of the populist right in the United States, Mr. DeSantis is widely seen as Donald Trump’s most serious competitor for the Republican primary. He has made the fight against “wokism” one of his main battlegrounds: he accuses a group of “elites” of imposing their progressive ideology on a society that refuses it, and has pledged to defend against it. on his land. Not yet declared for the Republican primary, this 44-year-old conservative carries his fight against Disney as a standard, in his speeches as in his recent autobiography, where the subject occupies an entire chapter.
Disney had drawn the wrath of the governor last year by denouncing a bill that restricted the teaching of subjects related to sexual orientation and gender identity in Florida elementary schools. Ron DeSantis’ fight against Disney, however, is beginning to draw criticism from the right. Some Republicans castigate an anti-business fight that goes against the tradition of their usually openly “pro-business” party.