On the night of Thursday, Jan. 4, the Argentine Journalism Forum (FOPEA, for its acronym in Spanish) published a serious statement on social networks rejecting the attitudes of presidential spokesperson for Javier Milei's government, Manuel Adorni.
According to Argentine media, Adorni had responded sarcastically to journalist Fabián Waldman, from radio FM La Patriada, earlier that day. Later, his official account reproduced the response, provoking virtual ridicule of the journalist.
On social media, FOPEA published the following statement:
"FOPEA urges presidential spokesperson, @madorni, to maintain distance and respect for the professional work of journalists and to avoid using official channels to ridicule their work. This Thursday [Jan. 4], colleague @FabianWaldman (FM La Patriada) asked him during the usual press conference about the eventual loss of acquired labor rights, to which the official responded in a mocking and ironic manner. Furthermore, the official Presidential Vocería account on the X network cut that fragment of the conference to ridicule the journalist. FOPEA reminds Adorni, as it did with the previous spokesperson Gabriela Cerruti, that the press has the right and obligation to ask questions and officials have the right and obligation to respond in a professional manner, avoiding offenses, irony and ridicule. Instead of improving the quality of institutional debate, these attitudes only degrade public discussion."
