Venezuela Expels German Channel Deutsche Welle for Alleged Propaganda of Hatred
The Minister of Communication and Information of the Government of Venezuela, Freddy Ñáñez, announced the expulsion of the German channel Deutsche Welle from all cable service companies in the country on Monday. The decision was based on accusations of the television station “disseminating content and promoting propaganda of hatred” against the nation.
The expulsion had an immediate effect after Deutsche Welle posted content on social networks citing information attributed to Transparency International, which ranked Venezuela as the second most corrupt country in the world. The report included accusations of a “mafia state” and references to the Cartel of the Suns, a criminal network involved in drug and gold trafficking.
The Venezuelan opposition and some international figures have previously made similar accusations against the Maduro government, which President Maduro himself labeled as “Nazi” in response to the recent actions against Deutsche Welle.
This move is not unprecedented, as the Venezuelan government has a history of clashing with international media outlets critical of Chavismo. The National College of Journalists of Venezuela condemned the expulsion as an attack on freedom of expression, highlighting the government’s crackdown on independent media in recent years.
The expulsion of Deutsche Welle comes amidst a broader international isolation of the Maduro government, with recent detentions of opponents and activists. The United States, which had previously lifted sanctions on gold and oil exports from Venezuela, has expressed disappointment with the government’s actions and signaled a tougher stance moving forward.
As Venezuela continues to face political and economic challenges, the expulsion of Deutsche Welle marks another step in the government’s efforts to control the narrative and suppress dissenting voices.