Kirchner vs. The Press

In the wake of the country's 2002 economic collapse, the Argentine Congress gave the executive immense powers on the grounds that the circumstances called for extraordinary government action.

Seven years later those powers have not been rescinded and the state dominates the economy as an owner and regulator. Argentina now faces the threat of a further consolidation of control by President Cristina Kirchner through means similar to those employed by Hugo Chávez. As in Venezuela, free speech and the free press are being targeted for increased repression.

Let this be a lesson to any modern democracy that cedes broad power to government in a time of crisis: Granting power to the executive is easy; getting it back isn't.

...

Argentines should remember that survival of the republic requires a strong fourth estate. Survival of the Kirchner regime requires the opposite. In the coming months only one will prevail.

Mary Anastasia O'Grady
Periodista del Wall Street Journal

Fuente: Kirchner vs. The Press