Media conglomerate Grupo Clarín today presented a formal legal challenge against the president of AFSCA media watchdog Martín Sabbatella, which was dismissed as ridiculous by the official as the dispute over a forced divestment of the company’s multimedia assets continues.
In the petition, filed against the five AFSCA directors that voted in favour of beginning the process of divestment against Clarín, the corporation argued that Sabbatella could not enforce the procedure due to «criminal charges» held against him. Those charges were also presented by the Group, accusing the former mayor of Morón of «inciting collective violence.»
The media group also alleged two further reasons: firstly, because the president expresses «a profound enmity against the media company,» and also due to an alleged «lack of impartiality.»
Responding to the Clarín request, Sabbatella dismissed the charges made by the group out of hand.
«The presentation is an absolute joke and the arguments they put forward are ridiculous,» he fired.
«First of all, the criminal complaint against me is also against several journalists and shows clearly that Clarín despises freedom of expression.
«Second, the supposed profound enmity is from Clarín to me and to anyone that wishes to make the [Media] law work against their privileges.»
Sabbatella did recognise that he held political views, as «happens with all the officials in a democratic state.» But the New Encounter figurehead insisted that the onus was on Clarín to put their affairs in order.
«It would be great if instead of presenting petitions to challenge me or the AFSCA directors, who voted for the law to be enforced, the Grupo Clarín started to give some explanations about the crossed societies they have in New Zealand, Panamá, the United States and Argentina,» he signalled.
Source: Buenos Aires Herald