The Community of Madrid has nothing to contribute or correct regarding the behavior of Isabel Díaz Ayuso's chief of staff, for which the Council of Europe opened an investigation in April following the insults and threats against elDiario.es and one of their journalists.
In a letter to the Council, the Ayuso executive limits itself to exposing generalities regarding the freedom of the press guaranteed by the Constitution and the Statute of Autonomy, and makes it a point not to veto the official acts of the autonomous government.
“The Government of the Community of Madrid has always taken a position of great respect for press freedom and has facilitated unrestricted access to all media to press conferences and other public events, without “any distinction”, the letter said.
In its response to the Council of Europe, requested in the open procedure, the Ayuso government adds that “on 21 March 2024, the Madrid Assembly unanimously approved an institutional declaration in defence of press freedom and respect for journalistic work. This declaration reaffirms our community’s unwavering commitment to press freedom and recognises it as an essential human right and a fundamental pillar of democratic society.”
So much for the reaction of the Community of Madrid, which does not even mention the fact under investigation and much less distances itself from the insults and threats. Although, yes, he concludes: “While we wait for this information to be useful, we remain at your disposal for any additional questions or clarifications you may need.”
Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, Chief of Staff of the President of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, attacked a journalist from our newsroom with insults and threats, including the closure of this medium. After Miguel Ángel Rodríguez exposed the tax fraud worth 350,951 euros committed by the partner of the President of Madrid, he insulted and threatened his interlocutor with successive messages.
'We're going to crush you. You'll have to close. Fuck you. Idiots.” The recipient of the messages asked Ayuso's chief of staff: “Is this a threat?” “It's an advertisement,” replied Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, who reprimanded the member of this editorial team with a few more insults.
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At elDiario.es we are aware that publishing studies like that of Ayuso's partner is not easy and that there may be consequences. At least we know what we're dealing with this time. They made it clear to us in writing: “We are going to crush you, you will have to close.” The threats from Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, the right-hand man of the Madrid president, are not just a warm-up. It is not even the first time he has resorted to such pressure to prevent information from being published.
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