The Argentine president, Javier Milei, acknowledged this Monday that he gets along badly with 85% of journalists, because he thinks they are liars, and although he indicated that he is not spiteful, he warned that he remembers the slander.
“I get along badly with 85% of journalists, because it seems to me that they lie,” Milei admitted on the Ciudad Magazine channel, where he was interviewed by his girlfriend, Amalia “Yuyito” González.
Milei, who took office on December 10, 2023, recalled that since the electoral campaign last year, there were people who “have messed with everything” in his life and who “have bribed people” to dirty him and “so that speak badly”, in which, he stated, “there was a lot of complicity with journalism.
“I am not spiteful, but I have memory,” warned the Argentine president, adding: “I remember each one of those who dirty me, slandered me, insulted me.”
Drones
The Argentine president also indicated that a media outlet “threw drones inside the house”, that is, the official residence in the town of Olivos, in the province of Buenos Aires, where he lives, which were thrown away.
“The media has the right to investigate and report, but getting into my private life, with drones inside the house, seems excessive to me,” Milei said.
The Milei Government maintains a complex relationship with the media and journalists in Argentina, to the point that many of them suffer public insults from the president himself.
In this context, the Milei Administration announced two weeks ago the elimination of value added tax (VAT) exemptions that benefited sales of newspapers and magazines and digital news media subscriptions in Argentina.
Milei said that his management monitors social networks “all the time” because “at the speed” they work, “when faced with a problem, it can be resolved very, very quickly.”
Buenos Aires / EFE
#badly #journalists #lie #Milei
**Interview with Dr. Mariana Ruiz, Media Analyst and Journalist**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Ruiz. The recent comments from President Javier Milei have sparked significant debate about press freedom in Argentina. What are your thoughts on his statement regarding his relationship with journalists?
**Dr. Ruiz:** Thank you for having me. President Milei’s admission that he gets along poorly with 85% of journalists is alarming yet not surprising given his confrontational style since taking office. This sentiment reflects a broader attitude that is often seen in political leaders who feel threatened by the press’s role in holding them accountable.
**Editor:** In your assessment, how do such statements from a sitting president affect press freedom and the overall journalistic environment in a country?
**Dr. Ruiz:** When a leader openly disparages the press, it creates an atmosphere of fear and censorship. Journalists might hesitate to pursue stories that could provoke the government or face backlash. Healthy democracies rely on a robust and independent press, and any hostility from political leaders undermines that foundation.
**Editor:** The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on President Milei to cease his attacks on the media. What impact do organizations like the CPJ have in situations like this?
**Dr. Ruiz:** Organizations like the CPJ play a crucial role in advocating for press freedom. By amplifying concerns about government hostility towards journalists, they put pressure on leaders to respect press rights. Their international visibility can also lend support to local journalists who may feel isolated in their struggles.
**Editor:** Given the current climate, what can journalists do to navigate such challenges while preserving press freedom?
**Dr. Ruiz:** Journalists should maintain their commitment to ethical reporting and truth-telling, despite the pressures they may face. Building solidarity among journalists and seeking support from local and international press freedom organizations can also provide a buffer against government attacks. Engaging in dialogue with public authorities, as CPJ suggested, could help foster a more cooperative relationship.
**Editor:** Thank you for your insights, Dr. Ruiz. It seems that maintaining a free press will require collective effort from journalists, media organizations, and civil society.
**Dr. Ruiz:** Absolutely. The fight for press freedom is ongoing, and it’s essential to stand together against any attempts to undermine it.
**Editor:** Thank you again for your time today. We appreciate your perspectives on this critical issue.
