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Uruguay Chamber of Deputies approves media law with article on 'impartiality' of the press

“[On July 8, Uruguay's] Chamber of Deputies approved the law on the Regulation of Audiovisual Content Broadcasting Services, commonly known as the media law, with 50 out of 91 votes.

[...]

In the middle of the discussion for the approval of the text there were tensions due to an article on the 'impartiality' of the media that was introduced by Cabildo Abierto in the Senate. After several turns back and forth, the Colorado Party decided to support the bill with the 'condition that there will be a veto [of article 27]' by President Lacalle Pou.

If there is no veto, the Colorado Party decided that 'it will proceed with the legal elimination' of article 72, which is the object of their discontentment.

[...]

The Colorado representative Ope Pasquet has said that the article is 'dangerous,' arguing that the 'appreciation' of what the information should be 'cannot be anything other than subjective and discretionary.' 'What is serious, impartial and balanced to some may seem inconsistent, partial and self-serving to others. The attempt to apply the norm by sanctioning alleged infractions would generate endless discussions, which would strain the political climate and damage the international prestige that the country owes to its democratic institutions,' he said."

Read original article (in Spanish)