Afsca’s board of directors approved today its own model for the reorganization of Grupo Clarín, after rejecting the group’s proposal due to alleged irregularities. The vote was passed with five members in favour and two abstentions.
The decision means that voluntary efforts by the media giants to reorganise their holdings will be suspended, with the watchdog taking charge of valuing and putting up for public sale those parts of the Clarín group which clash with the anti-monopoly regulations laid down in the Media Law.
During a press conference before the board’s meeting, Afsca head Martín Sabatella referred to «societal ties» between shareholders of two units in which the media holding will be divided into.
In response the Group vehemently rejected Sabbatella’s accusations, adding that the entity would «use every possible avenue to safeguard rights.»
«All of the statements made by Sabbatella are a deliberate falsehood and they are contradicted by reality,» Clarín maintained in a statement released after the AFSCA conference.
The media giants in turn denounced what they called an «unprecedented persecution by the government against Clarín and against dissident voices in general.»
The government watchdog unveiled to NA news agency they will proceed with a pricing of the company, and anticipated they will call for a public tender to divide Grupo Clarin’s licenses and fulfil with the new media law.
Source: Buenos Aires Herald