Presidential Spokesperson Manuel Adorni has brushed off criticism of the move to modify access to public information, insisting that changes issued by government decree will remain in place.
Civil society organisations, opposition politicians and press organisations this week condemned a move by President Javier Milei to alter transparency rules.
Milei, a self-described “anarcho capitalist” who campaigned as a “liberal-libertarian,” issued a government decree on August 30 altering a 2016 law introduced by the Mauricio Macri administration.
The new rules redefine the scope of the 2016 law. Amongst others, it prevents access to "the working papers" and "deliberations" of officials, as well as information about their private life.
The move met with widespread repudiation from rights watchdogs. More than 70 civil associations signed an open letter published Tuesday condemning the changes.
For the signatories, the presidential measure "implies a serious regression in the interpretation of the right of access to information in the light of international human rights standards and the battle against corruption."
Speaking at his daily press conference on Friday, Milei’s chief spokesperson said there was no U-turn in the works.
“It’s about access to public information serving its purpose and not allocating more resources than are required for society to be kept informed,” said Adorni.
“That is the spirit of the law, for all of us to be able to access government information, but for this not to go against the privacy of officials,” he argued.
Changes had been trailed in late July, when Treasury Attorney Rodolfo Barra stated that all requests for information regarding the number of dogs living with President Milei at Quinta de Olivos presidential residence, a sensitive issue, ought to be rejected.
“During this administration we have received 10 times as many requests, they have asked us what brand of tea we drink, what breed and colour our pets are, whether our pets are happy – which shouldn’t matter,” explained Adorni, who said the government wanted to “put an end to using so many public resources” for issues that are “not relevant.”
“We’re the first ones to defend transparency, honesty and them being apprised of everything,” said the presidential spokesperson.
Adorni said that the Casa Rosada had received an unusually high number of requests since President Milei took office.
“This does not go against information, it is simply about tidying up this thing where they ask us for things [that are] not worth the use of funds and unrelated to the honesty of an official,: he said.
The official also clarified that there will be clarifications to the decree, if necessary.
– TIMES/NA
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