The Court of Instruction No. 4 of Zaragoza has ordered the provisional file of the complaint filed by Ebro Business Investments (IEE). The EAE charges several crimes against the media Arainfo, its two journalists, Chorche Trico and Iker González, and against the councillor of Zaragoza en Comunale (ZeC) Suso Domínguez, among them "insults", "slander with publicity" and "disclosure of secrets". The order concludes that under no circumstances is it established that the plaintiffs have committed a criminal offence.

"The insulting or slanderous expressions attributed to the plaintiffs underlie the freedoms of expression and information," and, in the case of the councillor of ZeC, "those of political criticism," the car says. "They may not be liked by the recipients, as much as they suggest favourable treatment of the company, but in no case can these statements constitute a crime. Moreover, most of them have been carried out by journalism professionals. Apparently, when the use of public money given by the City of Zaragoza was questioned, its sole intention was to 'criticize' the actions of the municipality, according to the car.

In this sense, the car points out that "these manifestations can be annoying for the owners and managers of the complainant company Inversiones Empresarial Ebro S.A., in which they have hinted that they have obtained public aid for maintaining good relations with pp leaders". However, these manifestations do not correspond to the crimes regulated in Articles 205-ss of the Penal Code." "There is no other purpose than to reproach them for the actions of the municipal authorities and, indirectly, to condemn the activity of the company, but they have not exceeded the right to freedom of expression enshrined in the Constitution," the car says.

"We have to add - the car continues - that it cannot be ignored that in cases such as the one we are dealing with, the media, through information and criticism, the counterweight and control they can give to the powers of the state are within the game of our democracy. These cases are covered by freedom of expression and information and not only by harmless or harmless criticism, but also by others that may generate concern or pain.

AraInfo without mozalis

The Ebro Corporate Investment Complaint came in January of this year, as a result of information published by AraInfo in November 2023 in the news "The City of Zaragoza (PP) awarded a grant of 70,000 euros to a currently closed polo franchise" and "Other aid of 65,000 euros for the friends of Chueca". The three investigators, Iker González, Chorche Ric and Suso Domínguez, have defended the right to information and freedom of expression, as it has been accredited in the order of the Court of Instruction No. 4 of Zaragoza on Monday.

In response to this complaint, AraInfo launched the #AraInfoSinMordazas campaign in March. This is a campaign for freedom of information aimed at raising funds to cover the costs of the judicial process. In this campaign, complaints against journalists and media that have occurred in the State in recent years were incited. Hundreds of people and social, trade union and political groups joined the initiative, as well as some twenty media.