Argentina court upholds media law

BUENOS AIRES (AFP) ― Argentina’s Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a controversial law that would force the country’s largest media group, Clarin, to divest some of its units. Clarin, which has been locked in conflict with President Cristina Kirchner, had challenged the validity of the media anti-monopoly law, passed four years ago by a large majority in the Argentine Congress. But by a vote of 6-to-1, the top court ruled that the law was constitutional, upholding an antitrust clause that will force Clarin to divest most of its lucrative cable television operations. Clarin, which also publishes Argentina’s largest circulation newspaper, has said its attorneys are reviewing the ruling. In a statement, it called the ruling “an affront to freedom of expression.” The ruling hits media outlets “that exercise critical journalism” including those that challenge the government, it said. And as it mulls its next steps, Clarin said it has not ruled out “filing an appeal with international tribunals.” The Interamerican Press Association, which often is known by the Spanish acronym SIP for the Sociedad Interamericana de Prensa, issued a statement on Tuesday criticizing the ruling, which it said would have the effect of “gutting” the influential media group. As a precaution, the Buenos Aires stock exchange suspended trading of the media group, which had reported revenues of $2 billion in 2011, until the company “provides official information about the case.”