President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner today took to Twitter to attack Spanish newspaper El País for publishing a photo of Hugo Chávez in hospital which turned out to be false.
“That’s not a photo, it is a despicable trick” said the Argentine president of the image.
El País claimed that the photo was a recent image of the Venezuelan president in hospital in Cuba, “taken a few days ago”, however it was revealed that the picture was in fact a captured image from a Youtube video which dates back to 2008. The image shows Chávez undergoing a surgical procedure. The Spanish newspaper has withdrawn any unsold copies of the particular issue.
“The despicable press. I cannot think of another adjective. It is the same everywhere; El País in Madrid, The Sun in Murdoch’s London embroiled in corruption schemes with Cameron’s government and who knows what else” Fernández wrote on Twitter.
“Which editor authorised the publication? Will they speak about freedom of the press?” continued the President’s attack.
Fernández concluded with a message to María and Rosa, the two daughters of the Venezuelan head of state, urging them to keep caring for their father. She also addressed Nicolás Maduro, the vice-president, who today travels to Cuba to visit Chávez in hospital.
They are called tabloids. If you want to believe what they write , what they report on, well that’s your choice. Most people grow up knowing what is trash and what is not. Trying to censure the press is a waste of time, etc. The tweet “The Sun in Murdoch’s London embroiled in corruption schemes with Cameron’s government and who knows what else” is a good example of tabloid gossip and speculation.