Government ally says he'll vote against Venezuela's media content law

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Wednesday, June 04, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

The government bench has lost one ally in the National Assembly (AN) over the controversial media content law that has still to pass a first reading in plenary session.  Former National Assembly (AN) first deputy president, Rafael Simon Jimenez, currently head of the Vamos-OFM parliamentary group, says he for one will vote against the content media law. 

Jimenez left Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) when Podemos group split off and instead of staying with Podemos,  he formed his own splinter group called Vamos, which later merged with Lara state-based political party (OFM). "It is not the first time we have opposed such initiatives ... after the signing of the negotiations agreement, things have changed in Venezuela ... it is the hour of consultations." 

Jimenez says the confrontation between the government and print & broadcast media has been negative for both sides. "I'm against regulation and even though, I disagree with mainstream media attitudes, I prefer to see the media OTT than regulated by law."