This Is How Psoe Desperately Seeks to Ban Edatv From Congreso De Los Diputados

Critical media have become a significant threat to the communication hegemony of Pedro Sánchez's government. So much so that from the Lower House, politicians and journalists from major media outlets, compliant with those in power, have requested to expel media like EDATV on more than one occasion.

But Pedro Sánchez's government's plan to modify the accreditation criteria for media in the Congress of Deputies is not going entirely well. In this, which includes a sanctions regime, it has encountered obstacles in the current legislation.

The socialist Francina Armengol seeks to have these measures applied through a reform of the Regulations. But other parties, like the People's Party, believe that any sanctioning regime requires an organic law.

A Working Group Without Consensus

To address this issue, Armengol promoted the creation of a working group in June 2024 with the aim of drafting a new instruction. This is about the requirements for journalists to cover parliamentary information.

The initiative is led by the first vice president of the Lower House, Alfonso Gómez de Celis. But so far, it hasn't achieved significant progress or agreements between PSOE and PP.

After three meetings, the last one in December 2024, PSOE still hasn't presented a formal document with its proposal. This prevents PP from presenting its observations and alternatives. The lack of consensus keeps the debate at a standstill and leaves any possible reform in the short term hanging in the air.

All this, according to the digital publication, The Objective.

Growing Tension Between Journalists and Politicians

The conflict over media regulation in Congress has intensified in recent months. Largely due to complaints from the Parliamentary Journalists Association (APP). This organization has submitted several writings to the Congress Board, requesting that media like EDATV not be allowed to work inside Congress.

PSOE has taken advantage of this situation to try to push for greater control over journalists' access, using terms like "pseudo-media" and "pseudo-journalists." This is to refer to information professionals who ask uncomfortable questions to government politicians.

However, so far it hasn't managed to establish a legal formula that allows restricting the presence of certain media in the parliamentary headquarters.

The lack of progress in this process leaves open the question of how and when new accreditation criteria for media in Congress will be established. This, in a debate that continues to generate friction between parties and communication professionals.