Argentina's Macri appoints loyalist to head media regulator
A shakeup in Argentina's federal media regulator, ENACOM, has resulted in the appointment of a presidential loyalist as its new director, former Congresswoman Silvana Giudici.
Giudici, 53, is a prominent figure in President Mauricio Macri's right-wing party, PRO. She was named to the agency's board of directors by Macri in 2016.
Her appointment has been denounced by the opposition as incompatible with the office, given Giudici's involvement in a Macri campaign finance scandal as well as her close relationship to the Clarín Group, Argentina's largest media conglomerate.
Prior to Macri's election as president in 2015, Giudici became known for her frequent appearances as a guest on TN, the Clarín Group's cable news outlet.
She endeared herself to the powerful media group as a vocal opponent of the Audiovisual Communication Services Law, which limited media monopolies and was supported by the International Federation of Journalists, the Carter Center, and the UN, among others.
Passed by Congress and upheld by the Argentine Supreme Court, Macri nevertheless rescinded the law by decree within days of taking office.
In the tank
Her political star faded, however, after her involvement in the SUMA foundation scandal.
SUMA, a right-wing think tank established to promote Macri's candidacy, was raided by prosecutors in 2016 on charges that up to 4 million pesos ($450,000 at the time) were laundered through the non-profit to Macri's 2015 campaign.
Giudici served as treasurer of the SUMA Foundation during the campaign.
Radio host Reynaldo Sietecase compared her appointment to that of Laura Alonso's as head of the Anti-Corruption Office. Alonso, an outspoken former PRO congresswoman and vulture fund lobbyist, was installed despite her being from Macri's same party and lacking a law degree - both of which violate the office's prerequisites.
Alonso has consistently refused to investigate mounting allegations of tax evasion and self-dealing against Macri and other members of his administration - including Giudici.
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Macri's new media regulator, Silvana Giudici, during one of her frequent appearances as a commentator for the Clarín Group - the very group she will now be regulating.
