Medellin, Colombia – Argentine President Javier Millais today banned about 60 journalists from the presidential palace.
Previously accredited journalists’ fingerprint access was withdrawn from the building’s security system today, Milei said, citing allegations of espionage and Russian funding.
It is the latest example of a crackdown on press freedom during Millay’s presidency, with human rights groups condemning an increase in harassment of journalists.
Journalists who once reported daily from government headquarters were told on Thursday morning they would not be allowed into La Casa Rosada, according to local media.
Milei attacked the journalist on his
The president and his followers later circulated the slogan #NOSALP, which through
Milei justified the ban by citing a recent criminal complaint filed by Casa Militar, the presidential security department, against journalists from local news station Todo Noticias (TN).
Two TN journalists have been charged with espionage after photos of La Casa Rosada’s interior were broadcast by news channels. Casa Militar claims it could expose political or military secrets.
Javier Lanari, a member of Milei’s communications team, similarly claimed via No further details were provided explaining this move, and no official statement was released.
The blanket ban follows the ban earlier this month of journalists from various Argentine media outlets allegedly involved in a Russian disinformation campaign ahead of the 2024 elections.
Following Milei’s decision, members of Congress from across the political spectrum condemned the move, presenting a draft resolution to the press calling for the immediate reopening of La Casa Rosada.
Marcela Pagano, a member of parliament and former member of Millay’s La Libertad Avanza party, also filed a criminal complaint against the liberal president later in the day, likening the extraordinary decision to a crackdown on the country’s military dictatorship.
“Restricting journalists’ freedom of expression is the first step to silencing dissenting voices,” she told X.
Her criminal complaint accuses Milei, Lanari and Sebastián Ignacio Ibáñez (head of Casa Militar) of supporting decisions that cause “lasting and irreparable harm” to “the republican system, freedom of the press, the right to public information and the professional practice of journalism.”
Featured image source: AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko.
