The Venezuelan newspaper Última Hora announced this Friday, August 2, the closure of its operations in response to threats issued by Portuguesa state Governor Primitivo Cedeño, an ally of President Nicolás Maduro. In a statement published on its website, the newspaper's editorial staff says the decision was made to protect its employees.
"In the face of threats from Primitivo Cedeño, Última Hora says goodbye, safeguarding the physical integrity of our journalists and other workers. We will meet again in democracy," the statement says.
According to the National Association of Journalists of Venezuela (CNP), on Wednesday, July 31, Cedeño intimidated the press with statements in which he said there are "news portals that have incited hatred on social media, owners of digital newspapers" and that these would be investigated.
