Argentina govt suspends state news agency Telam

FRANCE 24 English

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00:00 Crammed into the street in front of the Telem headquarters, hundreds of protesters vented

00:05 their anger at the state news agency's suspension.

00:10 The outlet's 700 staff were told to down tools for at least a week as the government works

00:16 to finalise its closure.

00:18 The press union says it's a blow for democracy.

00:21 "We're counting on the support of MPs, senators, governors and all our allies because Telem

00:28 is crucial.

00:29 It plays a strategic role in the communication industry.

00:33 This isn't just about silencing a public news outlet, it's about reshaping the entire media

00:38 landscape."

00:41 On Sunday night, journalists discovered that two of Telem's buildings had been fenced off

00:46 by police while the agency's website was taken down.

00:51 It comes after President Javier Millet labelled the agency a mouthpiece for "Kirchnerist propaganda",

00:57 referring to the leftist political ideology of former president Cristina Kirchner.

01:02 Millet, who took power in December, is on a mission to slash state spending, deregulate

01:08 the economy and close government-funded organisations he sees as serving no purpose.

01:15 "This week we will finish the plan that will fulfil the president's will, which is to close

01:21 Telem Agency.

01:24 It has nothing to do with freedom of speech, press freedom or anything that goes against

01:29 democratic basis."

01:30 Millet's spokesperson also said that Telem had suffered losses of up to 20 billion pesos

01:40 or roughly 21.8 million euros in 2024 without giving details.

01:46 In February, the government announced it would modify the structure of all state media, including

01:51 Tel-Am and national television and radio stations.

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