Sánchez faces accusations of press censorship in Spain
Spain's government spends €900,000 on media subscriptions and plans online hate speech controls, drawing EU complaints.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Sánchez faces accusations of press censorship in Spain
The comparison with the Franco-era NO-DO newsreel is not unfounded. Just months after the June 9 European elections, Pedro Sánchez's government has accelerated an unprecedented offensive against judicial independence and press freedom. Ciudadanos' complaint to the European Commission regarding "attacks" on media and the CGPJ (General Council of the Judiciary) is not an isolated incident: it forms part of a pattern that, according to the US State Department, includes "harassment" of journalists and "risks from polarized politicians." The official narrative sells this as a fight against disinformation, but the numbers suggest otherwise.
€900,000 in subscriptions and a witch hunt
The government spends €900,000 annually buying newspaper subscriptions, according to The Objective. This figure alone might not be alarming if it were not accompanied by a pressure strategy against companies supporting non-aligned media. The Objective describes a "witch hunt" targeting firms advertising in critical press. Meanwhile, the PP accuses Sánchez of wanting to control private media "like Maduro." The platform 'For Independent Justice' has already warned Brussels that EU funds are at risk if the Rule of Law is abusa; the conditionality mechanism allows for suspending aid.
From "Hello President" to online hate speech controls
This drift has precedents. During the pandemic, the famous "Aló presidente" calls were the seed, as noted in common analyses. Now, Sánchez announces the creation of a tool for "hate speech control" on social networks to justify censorship, according to Okdiario. Telegram's owner has already alerted all users about new censorship in Spain. The argument: curbing Vox's hate speech. But the saga also includes the dismissal of David Alandate from El País, who claims the president himself called to dictate headlines. The Federation of Press Associations (FAPE) has demanded an end to political attacks to silence the press.
The NO-DO never left; it just changed its name. It is now called the evening news, said one participant. The full calculation of propaganda spending, cases of pressure on media, and warnings from Brussels paint a scenario that, pending resolution, leaves more questions than certainties. Meanwhile, Moncloa's silence is the only response.
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The comparison with the Franco-era NO-DO newsreel is not unfounded. Just months after the June 9 European elections, Pedro Sánchez's government has accelerated an unprecedented offensive against judicial independence and press freedom. Ciudadanos' complaint to the European Commission regarding "attacks" on media and the CGPJ (General Council of the Judiciary) is not an isolated incident: it forms part of a pattern that, according to the US State Department, includes "harassment" of journalists and "risks from polarized politicians." The official narrative sells this as a fight against disinformation, but the numbers suggest otherwise.
€900,000 in subscriptions and a witch hunt
The government spends €900,000 annually buying newspaper subscriptions, according to The Objective. This figure alone might not be alarming if it were not accompanied by a pressure strategy against companies supporting non-aligned media. The Objective describes a "witch hunt" targeting firms advertising in critical press. Meanwhile, the PP accuses Sánchez of wanting to control private media "like Maduro." The platform 'For Independent Justice' has already warned Brussels that EU funds are at risk if the Rule of Law is abusa; the conditionality mechanism allows for suspending aid.
From "Hello President" to online hate speech controls
This drift has precedents. During the pandemic, the famous "Aló presidente" calls were the seed, as noted in common analyses. Now, Sánchez announces the creation of a tool for "hate speech control" on social networks to justify censorship, according to Okdiario. Telegram's owner has already alerted all users about new censorship in Spain. The argument: curbing Vox's hate speech. But the saga also includes the dismissal of David Alandate from El País, who claims the president himself called to dictate headlines. The Federation of Press Associations (FAPE) has demanded an end to political attacks to silence the press.
The NO-DO never left; it just changed its name. It is now called the evening news, said one participant. The full calculation of propaganda spending, cases of pressure on media, and warnings from Brussels paint a scenario that, pending resolution, leaves more questions than certainties. Meanwhile, Moncloa's silence is the only response.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (137 replies).
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