The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) has strongly condemned the attacks on the press by the president of Chile, Gabriel Boric, and recalled this Friday that freedom of expression is a fundamental right. The last of these criticisms of the press by Boric took place last Wednesday, within the framework of the 2023 Annual Industry Meeting, when the Chilean president questioned the work of certain newspapers in that country with the following statements: “When I read newspaper headlines (…). In truth, I read the newspapers little at this point.. But the desire to prefer the bad news is impressive.. I don't know how those who continue reading El Mercurio, La Tercera, La Segunda, remain with their hearts afterwards, because, in truth, it is as if we lived in a hellish country.. And we are not in that,” Boric said.

Given these words, the WAN-IFRA association has appealed to article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which recognizes freedom of expression as a fundamental right, which “includes the right not to be disturbed because of one's opinions, to investigate and receive information and opinions, and to disseminate them, without limitation of borders, by any means of expression”.

For this reason, they continue, statements such as those of the president of Chile “contravene this right and threaten the freedom of the press, the basis of any democracy, its social work and the control of the media.”. This is a very serious fact that we wish to denounce and urge the eradication of such threats by certain politicians,” they stated in a statement in which they expressed their full support and solidarity with the Chilean National Press Association (ANP). and to the indicated media: El Mercurio, La Tercera and La Segunda.

“We will continue to ensure that undemocratic practices do not silence the vital work of journalists”

For his part, Fernando de Yarza, president of WAN-IFRA, recalled that “journalism is one of the fundamental pillars of any democracy and reprehensible behavior like that of Boric violates the fundamental rights of citizens.”

In this sense, adds the also president of the Henneo Group, “we will continue to ensure that undemocratic practices do not silence the fundamental work of journalists and try to manipulate public opinion to impose a single message by populist politicians – such as Boric, Trump or Maduro—who have proven to be the ultimate enemies of press freedom, of journalism exercised with nobility and ethics, and of democracy,” De Yarza has warned.

The Chilean Press Association joins the condemnation

The National Press Association (ANP) of Chile has spoken in the same terms, which has also condemned the words spoken by Boric. The organization has responded to the president's statements with a statement in which they express that they “trust” that Boric “will not join that list of rulers such as Donald Trump, Nicolás Maduro, Andrés López Obrador or Cristina Fernández, who have received complaints international organizations for their mistreatment of the press.

“Freedom of the press is the foundation on which democracy is based”

The association also recalled that this is not the first time that the president has said something against the press and that on one occasion he even had to apologize publicly for this reason.. “Freedom of the press is the foundation on which democracy is based,” they have insisted.