By Esiona Konomi
Smoke a cigarette in peace in the committee anterooms, but beware of health inspectors, and don't worry too much about defamation being decriminalized.
Stay calm, "because you don't give us the courage to insult you" with today's vote, because this intention does not exist among professional journalists.
You did not remove defamation as a criminal offense.
It remains so for every citizen of the country, including journalists.
Yes, yes, even for journalists.
Because the law you approved "forgives" only those journalists who are registered.
But where? The profession is not self-regulated. There is no legal basis that gives life to the law that you approved. So, in court, not everyone can convincingly prove that they are journalists.
You "pardon" the journalist if he meets certain conditions:
a) when the main purpose is to inform the public
b) when he has made reasonable efforts to verify their accuracy
c) when making a denial after being contacted by those affected
Excuse me, but on what basis will a prosecutor and a court verify that these criteria have been met?
You said you are completely in line with the European Union. Lie. The Commission has demanded the total removal, for everyone, of defamation from the Criminal Code, without categories, without conditions.
I remind you once again that whenever you feel that you are the subject of defamation, you have the civil court at your disposal for such lawsuits.
