Caracas Daily Journal (Jeremy Morgan): The National Assembly (AN) voted down a motion calling for a debate on allegations about the appointment of several officials at the legislature. The motion had been tabled by Deputy Ismael Garcia of Podemos, parliamentary leader of the social democratic party that used to back the government but is now in opposition, and a colleague, Pastora Medina.
The allegations were leveled earlier this week by two journalists, Pedro Pablo Penaloza of El Universal and Cecilia Caione of El Nacional, in their respective newspapers, both of which are noted for their lack of sympathy for the government.
The two reporters claimed that "irregularities" took place in the employment selection procedure for several senior staff posts in the chamber last September. They claimed there had been "nepotism" in hiring staff -- and Caione alleged that nine members of AN president Cilia Flores' family had been picked.
Flores' reaction to this during the debate in which Garcia's motion was turned down, was to dismiss the reports as an "infamy" and the reporters as "mercenaries of the pen of the worst quality" who represented "certain interests" in a "nefarious practice".
The response from Penaloza was that Flores had not responded to points raised in his and Caione's reports. They had expected Flores to call a press conference so that the issues raised by the reports could be thoroughly aired, he added, but Flores had opted to speak from her top position in the chamber.
Penaloza said he respected the high office Flores represented, but indicated he would continue reporting denunciations and claims by employees of the legislature. William Echeverriía, president-elect of the National College of Journalists, said there had been "enough of aggressions." A formal protest was sent to the Assembly on Wednesday.
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