Venezuela sues Spanish journal El País

Upon the scandal arising from the fake image of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez put on tubes, Spanish journal El País had no other choice but to recall the images it had released both via its website and its Wednesday printed edition.

In a statement, the journal offered its apologies to its readers for any caused damages, yet the journal did not apologize to the Venezuelan president or his family.

Lawsuit

After regarding the journal's apologies as "squalid," the Venezuelan Government announced it would push forward legal actions against El País. The Venezuelan Government accused the journal of being part of a smear campaign intended to bring destabilization in the country.

Venezuela's Communication and Information Minister Ernesto Villegas said in a press conference, "It (El País) did not even offer its apologies to President Chávez, his family, and the Venezuelan people (...) It violated all ethical standards in journalism and followed its manual."

The minister asserted that 56% of the information on Venezuela released by El País comes from Miami. He added that the city is home to "smear campaign laboratories."

With reporting by Juan Francisco Alonso and Gabriela Turzi Vegas

Translated by Jhean Cabrera