PP and citizens have denounced before the European Commission that the Government of Spain has applied a “veto” to various media, which have not been able to participate in Moncloa at an informative meeting with other journalists on the management of European funds at a time
In which the opposition and certain autonomous communities are alerting that there is an “arbitrary” and “unfair” distribution.
Similarly, both parties have also led this matter to the Congress of Deputies, where they have presented initiatives, such as claiming the appearance of the Minister of Presidency, Felix Bolaños, to demand explain what is the communication policy of Moncloa and what are the
Reasons why it is “excluded” to the means of communication.
The controversy emerges after Moncloa did not invite yesterday to participate in a briefing on European media funds such as the world, Europe Press, Colpisa and Servimedia agencies;
COPE chain, zero wave, ABC, reason, Vozpópuli, digital freedom or The Objective, among others.
In a question written to the European Commission, PP spokesperson in Brussels, Montserrat Dolors, and the Eurodiputate Javier Zarzalejo has alerted that the Government is imposing “barriers to freedom of information” and that “hinders access to truthful information
and the fight against misinformation. ”
“The argument offered by the Secretariat of State of Communication was the limitation of aprote, however, hours later, the press conference after the Council of Ministers in complete normality was also produced. In addition, I do not offer access to
The information or Connection in Streaming “, have pointed out the MEPs, according to the PP in a statement.
On another written question, the MEP of citizens Adrián Vázquez, who is president of the Committee on Legal Affairs of the European Parliament, has denounced to the European Commission that this “veto” fails to comply with respect for press freedom that enshrines the European Charter of
Fundamental rights of the EU.
“It’s an absolute scandal. Using measures of authoritarian regimes does the freedom of expression”, criticizes him.
Vázquez emphasizes that the Government has applied an “unacceptable opacity” and stands out that the circumstance is given that it refused access to information to “almost all means whose editorial line was not openly favorable to government”.
For this reason, he has asked the European Commission measures to ensure that this management “is carried out in a transparent manner and submitted to the independent scrutiny of the media”.
“We played a lot as a country with the funds and opacity and censorship should not be tolerated,” emphasizes orange kilo.
In Congress, PP spokesman, Cuca Gamarra, has spoken of “censorship” and has called for the appearance of Bolaños in a parliamentary commission so that, as head of the Secretariat of Communication, explain “what is the communication policy and
why it is censored to some means. ”
The leader of CS, Inés arranged, and Deputy Guillermo Díaz have presented a battery of written questions asking to know the selection criteria of journalists.
In addition, they reproach the government to “undermine” the principles of freedom of the press and that has been left apart from the “private” citizenship of access to that information.