DistantNews
Attempts to censor press entry to avoid bothering Yamil Esgaib
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Elections & Politics

Attempts to censor press entry to avoid bothering Yamil Esgaib

From ABC Color · (1h ago) Spanish Critical tone

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Paraguay's Chamber of Deputies attempted to restrict press access by requiring media accreditation notes.
  • The move was seen as an effort to prevent journalists from asking "uncomfortable" questions, particularly to Deputy Yamil Esgaib.
  • The measure was quickly rescinded after protests from journalists and consultation with the Chamber's president.

In a move that sparked immediate backlash, Paraguay's Chamber of Deputies, through its Directorate of Communication, attempted to impose new accreditation requirements on the press. This directive, which mandated that media outlets submit formal notes to accredit journalists, was widely perceived as a thinly veiled attempt to control reporting and shield certain officials, notably Deputy Yamil Esgaib, from critical questioning.

Se comunica a los periodistas que realizan cobertura en la Cámara de Diputados que sus respectivos medios deberán enviar una nota dirigida al director general de Comunicaciones de la HCD, Roberto Samaniego

— Directorate of Communication, Chamber of DeputiesThe initial communication announcing the new accreditation requirement for journalists.

The timing of this attempted censorship is particularly significant, occurring amidst ongoing scrutiny of Deputy Esgaib regarding his business administration degree, which he reportedly obtained in just three years—a timeframe significantly shorter than the typical four years required for the degree. Journalists have faced aggressive reactions from Esgaib when inquiring about his qualifications and other controversies, leading to suspicions that this new press restriction was designed to prevent further uncomfortable inquiries.

Dicha nota deberá ser remitida hasta el jueves 7 de mayo. Asimismo, cada profesional deberá portar su carnet de prensa vigente, correspondiente al medio al que representa

— Directorate of Communication, Chamber of DeputiesFurther details of the accreditation process, including the deadline and requirement for press cards.

Fortunately, the press corps in Paraguay, represented by outlets like ABC Color, stood firm. Their strong protests and the subsequent intervention of the Chamber's president, Raúl Latorre, led to the swift revocation of the accreditation measure. Latorre claimed ignorance of the directive issued by his subordinates and ordered its suspension pending further review. This incident highlights a recurring tension between the legislative branch and the press in Paraguay, where attempts to curb journalistic scrutiny, especially concerning controversial figures, are met with determined resistance from media professionals committed to upholding their constitutional right to inform the public.

Queda sin efecto, hasta nuevo aviso, la disposición referente a la presentación de notas de acreditación, mientras se evalúan y definen nuevas disposiciones

— Chamber of Deputies Communication DirectorateThe subsequent communication announcing the suspension of the accreditation measure.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog