The government has issued a decree to intervene in media regulator AFSCA and the Federal Authority for Information and Communications Technology (AFTIC) for 180 days.
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AFSCA head Martín Sabbatella is to be replaced (photo: José Romero/telam/aa)
Communications Minister Oscar Aguad stated this morning that the move comes as “both organisms and their authorities are not responding to the new organic structure outlined in the law of ministries.”
On his first day in office, President Mauricio Macri created the new Communications Ministry and transferred it control over AFSCA and AFTIC, both autonomous organisations in the 2009 Media Law.
Aguad added that there was a “rebellion” against the new government in both organisations. “The bodies have been allocating resources and making decisions about licenses without accepting the policies being set by this ministry,” said Aguad. “This intervention is obviously justified because otherwise we will face a chaos where decisions are contradictory.”
Today’s decree names Agustín Garzón (AFSCA) and Mario Frigerio (AFTIC) as replacements for Martín Sabbatella and Norberto Berner, respectively. The new authorities will have the power to revise the controls, purchases, and contracts issued by both organisations, as well as evaluate legal processes in which the bodies have been involved.
The measure will initially last for 180 days, but can be extended.
AFSCA leader Sabbatella, whose mandate runs until 2017, today filed a legal injunction against the measure and said that he will continue in his role until the courts make a decision. “We don’t think the decree is valid, this is an autonomous body that is not subject this type of decision, which is a serious encroachment.”
“[The government] is hoping for the Media Law to not be applied, that media groups remain concentrated so that it has protection from the unpopular policies it is going to adopt,” said Sabbatella.
Last week thousands gathered in two separate rallies in protest at the government’s proposed changes to the media law.
The original goal of the 2009 Media Law was to open up the country’s broadcast media landscape by limiting how much one corporation could dominate the radio, television, and cable services scene.
The previous government tried to achieve this by forcing larger media companies to reduce in size and by creating new broadcasting licences for universities and community organisations. Critics argued that it was used by the government to pressure opposition media.
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