The Diplomat
The Ciudadanos MEP and vice-president of the Civil Liberties Committee of the European Parliament, Maite Pagazaurtundúa, has asked the European Commission if it intends to take measures for what she considers to be the targeting of the media and journalists by Podemos members of the Government.
According to the orange formation, Pagaza has taken this initiative, after it was made public that the European institution has included the freedom and pluralism of the media in the Action Plan for Democracy.
In addition to this written question, the MEP has sent a letter to the Vice President of the Commission Margaritis Schinas, in which she welcomes the initiative of the Community Executive to strengthen media freedom, at a time when, for example -she states- in Spain, members of the Government “are taking advantage of their power and position inappropriately” to “try to eradicate the free press, as well as other institutions, justice, the education system or political opponents”.
Pagaza states that the Action Plan for Democracy can establish a structured dialogue with the member states if deficiencies are found in the country. For this reason, he calls on the Commission to use this mechanism with Spain “to address existing complaints with them.” “The populists are essentially illiberal, and they know that the suppression of freedom involves eradicating the free press, something intolerable for a society that claims to be democratic,” he said.
Likewise, he asked if he considers “more worrying” the cases of campaigns against media or journalists coming from parties or members of the government. “Any member of a government that does not respect freedom of the press and freedom of conscience, the basis of our democracy, should be recriminated at all levels. We cannot allow actions that seek to intimidate and self-censor journalists, as the result is a less pluralistic and less free society,” she stresses.
The MEP concludes by recalling the data collected in the annual report of Reporters Without Borders that points out deficiencies in press freedom in many EU countries and that especially charges against the aggressions and violence against journalists in Catalonia.
After insisting on the need for the Commission to take action as soon as possible, he concludes: “We must send a clear signal of support and protection to free media and journalists”.
