Spanish transport minister Oscar Puente calls journalists 'human excrement' in public post

Spanish transport minister **Óscar Puente** has used extremely harsh language to refer to a group of journalists, calling them "human excrement" and "repulsive garbage" in a post on social media.

## The minister's remarks

Transport minister **Óscar Puente** launched fierce attacks against part of the press, describing them as "shitty journalists", "human excrement" and "repulsive garbage" who spend their time lying. The remarks came during a public exchange over criticism that some journalists had directed at political figures. **Puente** argues that this criticism is unfounded and that the work of these professionals amounts to spreading disinformation.

## The context of the criticism

The minister's words come at a time of high tension and public debate over the relationship between politics and the media. Journalism, especially its investigative and critical side, is often in the crosshairs of those who believe it oversteps its limits or relies on manipulating information. Press freedom is a fundamental pillar of democracies, but its exercise can create friction when it is perceived as an attack on or a distortion of reality.

## The fallout

The expressions used by **Óscar Puente** have caused considerable uproar, both among journalists themselves and in public opinion. Describing an entire professional group in such terms, especially when it comes to **ministers** who represent the government, is usually controversial. The intensity of the language used by **Puente** underlines the deep divide that can exist in how some politicians and certain media outlets perceive each other, and highlights the polarisation of public debate.