Swedish government gives money to ‘independent media’ – in Venezuela

The Swedish government has decided that it is of utmost importance to “increase its support to freedom of expression, freedom of the press and independent media” and is immediately allocating SEK 10 million (€880 000) for this purpose.

However, media critical of the Swedish regime will not benefit from the money – the support will go to media operating in South American Venezuela.

– In light of the disputed election, Venezuela’s socialist regime is now doing everything it can to silence free speech and block oppositional voices, says Johan Forssell, Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade.

– With this emergency support, we want to help independent journalists to be able to report on the developments and document the restrictions on human rights and freedoms that are being imposed in the country, he continues.

The government does not want to reveal how the money will be distributed – but in a press release it states that “access to information is a cornerstone of the fight against authoritarian regimes” and claims that its focus is to “strengthen democracy, freedom of the press and freedom of expression globally”.

This “is one of the building blocks in the Government’s initiative to enhance the conditions for free elections”, it says, and the aid agency Sida will be tasked with distributing the money.

Ulf Kristersson’s government has previously been criticized by opposition media actors on both the left and the right for cracking down on journalism critical of the regime at home – while large and already influential left-liberal media groups such as Bonnier and Schibsted are expected to benefit from the new rules on media support.