The project of Media law began to be treated in Parliament in a “serious and urgent” manner, which generated strong questions from the Broad Front, from where they accused that the treatment is “closed cover”, alluding to the fact that the text did not go through commissions.
The initiative, which was already approved in Deputies, is now being debated in the Senate, where he arrived this Tuesday in a surprising way and even without the vice president knowing the situation Beatriz Argimón, something that happens at moments when the discussion about the new law on political parties and electoral advertising.
The Media law It has been waiting to be debated in the chamber for about three years and the opposition questioned the “true outrage” of the ruling party, pointing out that they were not allowed to read the text.
A controversial additive on political communication
The project, which occurs in the midst of a discussion with Town meeting by the financing law of the political parties, incorporated a controversial additive that ensures that “citizens have the right to receive political communication in a complete, impartial, serious, rigorous, partial and balanced manner among political actors.”
The surprising presentation of the project in the Senate, in the middle of the intersections with CA, suggests that the party headed Guido Manini Ríos could guarantee approval with their votes.
However, it is not clear how this additive could prosper without affecting the exercise of the freedom of expression in Uruguay.
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The government coalition today voted urgently, without reports and without treatment in committee, on a new Media Law.
What is the urgency? Why do they do it with their backs to the people? pic.twitter.com/X0iDN3riyq— Silvia Nane (@SilviaNaneFA) May 14, 2024
Criticism of the Broad Front
From the FA, the senator Lilián Kechichian He assured that the priority of the Industry commission was tourist housing. “It was asked several times what the priorities were and the media law was never mentioned. It is not on the agenda even of the commission,” he questioned.
During his speech at the venue, Kechichian regretted that it is “a law that concentrates media, takes away rights and we do not know what the plurality of access to the media will be a few months before two electoral instances” and warned that “it is a true attack, no longer to the bench of the Broad Front, but to Uruguay all”.
In turn, his pair Eduardo Brenta considered that it is “a hard blow to the democracy and transparency”, by questioning that the debate occurs “without knowledge of the opposition, nor of society as a whole”, by highlighting that there are more than 100 articles to vote on tables.
Meanwhile, the Broad Front Silvia Nane He stated: “The election times and there is a feeling in the air that the Coalition is not going to govern again.” “You can see that he is rushing the errand period,” he chirped.
Embed – Session of the Senate | 05/14/2024 | Eastern Republic of Uruguay
Source: Ambito