A regional bill in Spain will provide a preview of the restraints on freedom of the press planned by the country’s Socialist government.
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez announced recently that by July he would propose legislation for “democratic renewal,” specifically to “end the impunity” of what he called “pseudomedia.” These so-called pseudomedia outlets, according to Sánchez, “spread hoaxes and disinformation” with the help of financing from “the far-right coalition governments of the [center-right] Partido Popular and [populist] VOX.” The two parties have formed coalitions in several of Spain’s regional governments.
Sánchez promised this initiative when his wife came under investigation for alleged corruption and influence trafficking following months of reports in several Spanish media outlets that questioned her activities.
A few weeks before Sánchez delivers his promised legislation, the Socialist party in Andalusia has registered a bill in the regional parliament with the same end in mind.
El Debate reports that the bill includes proposals to “dignify” the profession of journalism through legislation “against hoaxes” and new rules around where the government can place advertising to prevent “pseudomedia” and “pseudojournalists” from receiving advertising money from the regional government.
The deputy spokesman for the Andalusian socialists, Josele Aguilar, claimed the proposal arose from his party’s concern over the state of “general disinformation” in Spain and Andalusia.
Additionally, the bill would include journalists in the government jobs scheme which stipulates the requirements for each post in public employment, specify which degrees are required for journalists, create support measures to “update” journalists over the age of 50, and measures to differentiate between “those who practice journalism as a professional or as a political agitator.”
For the general public, there are other measures to spread “digital literacy” among citizens so they “have the ability to discern” between information and “hoaxes.”
The Socialists will have the chance to defend their bill in the Andalusian parliament next week but it will be a tough sell as the center-right Partido Popular has an absolute majority in the chamber. It will, however, provide a platform for the Socialist Party to accuse their political opponents of fermenting “hoaxes,” accusations which will be echoed in government-friendly media throughout the country.
