Opposition deputy Raúl Benítez and transparency activist Federico Legal have publicly ridiculed the upcoming participation of two controversial Colorado Party (cartista) lawmakers in a talk on access to public information and transparency, scheduled for May 20, according to a report by Ultima Hora.
Benítez, who frequently clashes with deputy Yamil Esgaib during legislative sessions, wrote on social media: “Excellent event, I won’t miss it. I’m intrigued to hear the arguments they use to vote against, every week, requests for information on matters that should be public.” He was referring to the systematic rejection by Abed and Esgaib of information requests submitted to the Chamber of Deputies.
Lawyer Federico Legal, an advocate for free access to information, also criticized the choice of speakers. “The women in charge of transparency at the represented institutions are excellent professionals, but that a guy who attacks female journalists, uses vulgar language, and hates being held accountable is the face of such an event—that’s pure mockery and degeneracy,” Legal said. He referenced an incident in which Esgaib verbally assaulted journalists Fiona Aquino and Rocío Pereira when they questioned him about a nepotism case involving his daughter.
The event will also feature three public officials: María Teresa Peralta, director of Human Rights at the Vice Presidency; Clara Aquino, director of Integrity and Transparency at the Comptroller General’s Office; and Élida Acosta, advisor to the Transparency and Access to Public Information Directorate of the Supreme Court of Justice. The criticism from Benítez and Legal focuses solely on the two legislators, not on the other participants.
Benítez and Esgaib have a history of heated exchanges, most recently over the legitimacy of Esgaib’s university degree from the Universidad Sudamericana, which is under scrutiny in connection with the Hernán Rivas case.