In a controversial move, Nicolás Maduro, the president of Venezuela, has labeled content from German news channel Deutsche Welle (DW) as “Nazi.” This led to an immediate cessation of its distribution across the country. This action is a direct response to a DW report that places Venezuela in a very unfavorable place in the global corruption index.
This is not the first episode of disagreement between the Venezuelan government and international media, with DW the latest in a series of media outlets that have faced censorship in Venezuela. The statements by Maduro and his officials indicate a clear suppression of free expression and the dissemination of critical reports about the current government.
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What did Nicolás Maduro say about the German media Deutsche Welle?
Tensions rose after the broadcast of a DW report that described Venezuela as a “mafia state” and pointed to corruption and illegal activities by senior officials and the military. Maduro responded by accusing the channel of pursuing an anti-Venezuelan agenda and defaming the country by spreading false and biased information, labeling its actions as “Nazi.”
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Why is Maduro censoring Deutsche Welle?
Deutsche Welle's censorship appears to be a defensive response to reports highlighting the serious situation of corruption and poor governance in Venezuela. By labeling the medium as a promoter of “hate propaganda,” Maduro is attempting to minimize the impact of international criticism of his regime and limit access to information for the Venezuelan people in order to maintain a government-controlled narrative.
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What is Deutsche Welle?
Deutsche Welle is a German international broadcaster known for its commitment to press freedom and the worldwide dissemination of objective, verified news. DW was founded in 1953 and offers content in multiple languages. It has established itself as a trusted source of global information and highlights the importance and impact of censorship in Venezuela.
The decision to remove DW from streaming platforms in Venezuela reflects an ongoing pattern of censorship and suppression of free expression, a strategy by the Maduro government to control the narrative and minimize dissent. This measure not only limits Venezuelans' access to impartial international information, but also sends a discouraging message to the global community about the state of press freedom in the country.
The Venezuelan politician reiterates that Maduro's strategy is the same as Ortega used in Nicaragua: eliminate every political rival. Photo: LR-Komposition/Jazmin Ceras/AFP
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