News channel critical of Argentina's Macri blocked from paying salaries

[sandensea]

C5N, Argentina's top-rated cable news channel and a leading critical voice against the right-wing Mauricio Macri administration, had a judicial lien issued against its operating account by a Buenos Aires tribunal today.

The ruling, made at the request of the Federal Revenue Agency (AFIP) over a $250 million tax debt owed by an ex co-owner of C5N's former parent company on an unrelated business interest (a chain of service stations), made no exception for operating budgets needed to meet payroll, as Argentine law mandates.

Some 350 employees, many of whom earn as little as 20,000 pesos ($514) monthly, are affected by today's decision. C5N News anchor Antonio Fernández Llorente stated that station attorneys intend to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court.

"The Law of Freedom of Expression bars the AFIP or any other state agency from jeopardizing payrolls at any media outlet, by way of collecting a debt or otherwise," union delegate Alexis Szewczik noted.

"It's the exact opposite of what this government is doing."

C5N, whose prime-time news program, Minuto Uno, has eclipsed an array of pro-government news channels in ratings since 2017, has earned the ire of state officials through reports into alleged self-dealing, campaign finance violations, and other wrongdoing by the Macri administration, of whose trickle-down policies its anchors and guests are largely critical.

The implosion last May of a carry-trade debt bubble promoted by Macri in 2016 and '17 has led to the most severe recession in Argentina since 2002.

"It's evident this government wants to corner C5N," Congressman Leopoldo Moreau, chair of the Press Freedom Committee, said. "And they're doing it in an electoral year, in hopes of silencing critical voices."

At: https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&tab=wT&sl=auto&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pagina12.com.ar%2F173627-bloqueo-a-c-5-n-a-pedido-de-la-afip

Employees gather outside C5N studios in Buenos Aires.

Despite rising to the top in ratings, the cable news station has struggled financially under a series of lawsuits filed by the government since Macri took office three years ago.

Argentine law prohibits state agencies from placing liens on media payroll or other operating accounts. The case is likely to be heard by the nation's Supreme Court.

[Judi Lynn]

1. This is going to get awful, isn't it? Hope there are organizations which will pitch in, financially

to help, one way or another, or help C5N with legal fees.

Does Macri's organization have any "napkin" judges in the Supreme Court, as Trump does?

Can't remember hearing anything about appointments to that court.

Don't think I heard that Macri had already harassed them earlier, forcing them to bleed money to keep going because of that. Good grief.

Powerful entities do the same thing here when they know they've got access to far more money than someone or something they want to destroy.

Will be hoping constantly for these people who dare to speak the truth to survive his war on them. They always do want to hide the truth, don't they? They are afraid of having large numbers of citizens knowing what they are doing when everyone realizes they are NOT the friends of the people, after all.

Que lástima.

Thank you, so much, sandensea, for giving us this important chance to know what's going on in Argentina and elsewhere!

You must stay warm during this very nasty week!

[sandensea]

2. Can you imagine if the Kirchners had done this to Clarin? And Clarin has 11 (hidden) Panama accounts

The Wall Street Journal - and others - would be howling about "censorship in Argentina!"

Like Bush (with Alberto González) and many other such regimes have done, most of Macri's abuses have taken place by way of a weaponized judiciary - i.e. lawfare.

Strategically placed prosecutors and judges who, either through political affinity or sheer bribery (and sometimes extortion), will railroad opponents at the president's whim.

Cheeto, as you know, has openly toyed with doing the same to Hillary and other prominent Democrats.

Luckily, Macri has not been able to hijack the Supreme Court the way Trump has. They played along with him for a couple of years; but they've recently asserted their independence a lot more.

There's good reason to believe this clearly illegal ruling against C5N staff will be overturned.

Since December, they've ruled against Macri on everything from amnesty for Dirty War torturers (the '2-for-1' get-out-of-jail-card case); his cuts to pensions; and his attempt to write off his own family's $300 million debt to the postal service.

Even Macri's most loyal Supreme Court Justice, former Clarín lawyer Carlos Rosenkrantz, voted against him on that last one.

The Argentine Supreme Court: Standing up to an increasingly authoritarian Macri; even Rosenkrantz (right) is creating some daylight between himself and the president.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Seeing your comments in your post was a bright spot for the day!

First, the negativity arose in seeing Clarín had so many hidden accounts. That had sailed right by me. What a shame there isn't a more powerful paper in the country to give that the attention it deserves!

The other points made throughout are very refreshing. I had no idea that Macri had met any significant reverses at all. Hope the pattern can continue, as so much depends upon it if the country can stay afloat while he's "at the helm."

Your reminder of Alberto Gonzales brings back a tidal wave of vomit. I had totally forgotten for the moment about how much damage they did together during that time, starting immediately.





Wearing his favorite boots for his inauguration party. How festive!



Right wingers love to swagger.





So distinguished with a beard.