Tax authorities raid Argentina's biggest newspaper

[Joanne98]

Source: Reuters


* Opposition lawmakers criticize raid * Tax agency says raid is routine * Clarin would be hurt by proposed media reforms
(Recasts, adds reaction, adds byline) By Guido Nejamkis BUENOS AIRES, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Scores of tax officials
raided Argentina's biggest newspaper on Thursday, intensifying
a fierce battle between the government and one of Latin
America's largest media groups. More than 150 tax inspectors searched the Buenos Aires
building housing the offices of daily Clarin, which is owned by
media and telecommunications company Grupo Clarin (CLA.BA), and
removed files and documents. The raid comes as center-left President Cristina Fernandez is
pushing a media reform bill that analysts say will weaken Grupo
Clarin's role as the dominant media company in Argentina. An opposition lawmaker said the tax operation damaged
Fernandez's argument that her bill is aimed at bringing more
democracy and competition to the media sector. "There are no more doubts about what the bill's aims are.
It's meant to damage an economic group and not to help
citizens," Deputy Julian Obiglio, head of the center-left PRO
party in the lower house, said in a statement. Fernandez and her husband and predecessor, former president
Nestor Kirchner, have increased state intervention in some
sectors of the economy and have clashed with the agricultural
industry over farm policy. Ex-president Kirchner has publicly criticized Clarin's
coverage of the government as biased and described the company
as a "monopoly."

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssTechMediaTelecomNews/idUSN1029573820090910

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