In a tense televised exchange, the journalist confronted the Garrahan Hospital official who had denied her political activism
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Journalist Eduardo Feinmann was at the center of a heated live exchange with Norma Lezana, general secretary of the Association of Professionals and Technicians at the Hospital Garrahan, after the national government announced a 60% increase for workers at the pediatric center. The A24 host reproached the union leader for having "used the children" and politicized the protest to "bring down the government", after her candidacy for deputy for the Left Front was revealed.
"You used the children to bring down the government, Norma. You lied to my face. I asked you if you were involved in politics and you said no. Then I saw you on a list," Feinmann said, visibly outraged. The leader tried to justify herself by saying she was "a hospital professional" and that she had entered "through a competitive process", but the journalist doubled down: "You lied to me and you lied to the public. You couldn't care less about the children."
The exchange took place during the evening broadcast of the program, after the Executive confirmed the salary adjustment. "This is the response we've been waiting for a long time," Lezana had said at the beginning of the interview, adding that they received the news "with astonishment and joy". However, she quickly criticized Javier Milei's administration, pointing out that "there is damage because several professionals have resigned" and demanding that "competitive processes be reinstated".
Feinmann replied harshly: "After all, the government was right. The accounts had to be reorganized in order to give the necessary raises. It didn't engage in demagoguery like other governments did." The union leader insisted that "this could have been solved much earlier", which led the host to recall that "you also wanted to bring down a government".
Eduardo Feinmann.
The tension escalated quickly. "I'm not going to allow it," Lezana replied, raising her voice. "What you're saying to me disgusts me, Eduardo Feinmann," she added, shouting. The journalist retorted: "What disgusts me is using children for political purposes."
In another segment, Feinmann pointed out her clear partisan activism: "You belong to a political party, you deny it and then accuse me of McCarthyism. Don't come at me with that nonsense," the host exploded, in the midst of an increasingly heated discussion. Lezana, cornered, tried to turn the situation around by appealing to gender discourse: "What bothers you is union freedom and the fact that I'm a woman". The journalist replied bluntly: "Don't come at me with the woman argument... This isn't a gender issue, it's an issue of honesty."
The exchange included the intervention of another worker, Maximiliano Bares, who tried to downplay the journalist's accusations. But Feinmann again focused on the political background of the conflict: "People aren't stupid, that's why they voted the way they did. They're tired of seeing noble causes used for political purposes and to destroy governments."
He even mentioned Cristina Kirchner, alluding to corruption and political manipulation in the recent past: "The lady who's in prison screwed you over," he said bluntly.
El comunicado oficial del Hospital Garrahan.
Finally, after several minutes of tension, the leader tried to end the exchange by stating that "the only jersey I wear is that of childhood". But the journalist closed without leaving any doubt: "The Garrahan cause was your political cause. You used it for campaigning."
The episode had an immediate impact on social media, where Manuel Adorni, current Chief of Staff and former presidential spokesperson, shared the video of the confrontation with a reflection that summed up the sentiment of many Argentines: "It's good that these things happen on TV so everyone can see how politics often hides behind noble causes to defend political interests and cause harm without scruples."
