No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeCosta RicaMedia Tensions Rise as Costa Rica Government Mocks Reporters

Media Tensions Rise as Costa Rica Government Mocks Reporters

Tension between President Rodrigo Chaves and the press continues to escalate. During this week’s press conference, journalists were mocked by President Chaves and intimidated by the presence of Presidential House custodians while performing their duties.

Journalists David Chavarría, of the radio platform Interferencia, and David Bolaños, of the information verification project Doble Check, attended the government’s weekly press conference as part of their duties.

The journalists posed questions about the Gandoca-Manzanillo case and the companies seeking approval for 12-hour workdays. These questions were directed to President Chaves, the Minister of Environment and Energy, Franz Tattenbach, and Laura Fernández, Minister of the Presidency. The answers provided were insufficient or evasive, prompting the journalists to attempt to ask follow-up questions and address related topics.

At that moment, confusion ensued, as they were unable to ask their questions. While they spoke off-microphone, Chaves continued to refer to them by name, laughing and making dismissive comments, while gesturing as though asking for their removal or to have them ignored.

“Chaves passed by, making fun of me. Then I asked him why he did not answer our questions. In response, the Minister of Public Transportation told me I should respect him (President). I replied that the President should also respect the press and not offend with personal attacks,” said Bolaños.

For the communicator, the presence of bodyguards around him was an act of intimidation. “Given the situation, we asked to speak with the Minister of Communication after the conference, but he ignored the messages sent,” he added. A press release from the University of Costa Rica (UCR) described the incident as a blatant disrespect to press freedom.

“These actions are characteristic of an authoritarian government and represent a significant disrespect to both press freedom and the democratic system, as well as to our journalists as individuals: President Rodrigo Chaves repeatedly alluded to David Chavarría and David Bolaños to mock them and their work, with phrases that can be observed in the recordings available on government platforms and in other media,” the UCR said.

Despite the situation being recorded on video, the government rejected the accusations made by the UCR.

This is not the first time such a problem has occurred between the government and the press. On multiple occasions, journalists have denounced attacks on the press by the government.

Trending Now

Costa Rica Surf Film Festival Honors ‘Pura Vida Bodysurfing’ with Top Audience Award

Pura Vida Bodysurfing is an award-winning short film that strips surfing back to its essence—riding waves without a surfboard. Filmed across Costa Rica’s legendary...

Costa Rica Pushes USA to the Brink but Falls in Penalty Heartbreak

If you just caught the end of the USA vs. Costa Rica Gold Cup quarterfinal, you probably feel like you need another cup of...

Costa Rica’s Piangua Mollusk Threatened by Pineapple Farm Runoff

Costa Rica’s Térraba-Sierpe National Wetland, a 33,000-hectare haven of mangroves and rivers, is under siege from an unlikely source: pineapple farms. A study by...

2025 Gold Cup: Honduras Advances After Dramatic Shootout, Mexico Ends Goal Drought

Honduras, with a surprising and dramatic penalty shootout victory over Panama, and Mexico, with a lackluster win against Saudi Arabia, advanced Saturday to the...

Costa Rica Green Hotels Lead Global Sustainable Tourism

Costa Rica’s reputation as a leader in sustainable tourism grows stronger every year, with our green hotels setting a high bar for eco-conscious hospitality...

Life After MS-13 in El Salvador as Residents Seek a Fragile Peace

Esperanza Martinez lost three relatives who were murdered and saw numerous bodies left in the streets of her neighborhood, a former stronghold of the...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica