Carmen Aristegui

Ricardo V. Santes-Álvarez

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This is to express solidarity with a respectable person, the well-acknowledged journalist Carmen Aristegui. Two weeks ago, Carmen was fired from MVS News, a Mexico City based program that Mrs. Aristegui had leaded since long ago. The reason was that Carmen “converted a rumour in news”, something that was “unacceptable for MVS ethics”. What was the “rumour”? Previously a group of federal congressional representatives exposed a banner in which they asked the people if they would allow a drunken man to drive their car. Guessing the most probable answer was a negation, in the same banner the representatives wrote a second enquiry: “Then how is it that you allow him to drive your country?” The clear reference (there was an accompanying photo) was the Mexican president. The “sin” of Carmen Aristegui was the lonely mention of the issue and the suggestion that it would be convenient for the presidential institution to clarify such a presumption. Apparently, the implication was disagreeable to MVS; nevertheless, the wide perception was that pressure coming from the Presidential Office was the true reason for this nonsense.

In a world that it is changing and even the most authoritarian countries are converting speedily to democracy, how is it that antidemocratic attitudes still remain strong in Mexico?

Just recently, showing some repentance MVS announced Aristegui’s back to the program from Monday 21st on. Congratulations to Carmen. Congratulations also to Mexican society, which is embracing freedom of expression eagerly and rejecting archaic media decisively.

  Twitter: @RicSantes