Judicial delirium: Villarruel accuses Negre of 'threatening the constitutional order'

Victoria Villarruel, Vice President of the Nation, filed a criminal complaint against journalist Javier Negre for critical posts made on social media. She accuses him of violating articles 211, 213 bis, and 226 bis of the Penal Code, which punish "incitement to violence" and "attacks against the constitutional order."

The reason: a post in which Negre suggests that Villarruel might be seeking support from non-Kirchnerist Peronist sectors and from retired security forces. The official interpreted this as a coup threat and requested that he be investigated for attempting to "undermine the democratic order."

Absurd accusations: is criticism now a federal crime?

Among the most striking passages of the judicial document, Villarruel claims that the social media post is "a stark threat to the constitutional order" and that the reposting of the publication represents "an exponential aggravation of the harm." She even goes so far as to say that Negre should be investigated because his sources of income are unknown and that he could be financed with "public treasury funds."

The complaint also cites as an argument that the post was made from an unverified account, which supposedly spreads fake news, and that links Negre to other digital accounts such as @cpo.news and @cronicapolitica. However, not a single piece of concrete evidence of a crime is provided.

Press freedom at risk: when expressing an opinion becomes an "attack"

Beyond the bombastic tone, the complaint appears to be based on the idea that a criticism or a political analysis—even if harsh or controversial—can constitute a criminal offense. This represents a serious distortion of the right to freedom of expression, protected both by the National Constitution and by international human rights treaties.

Negre didn't accuse Villarruel of committing any crime; he analyzed political movements and speculated about possible internal power struggles. Claiming that this amounts to a coup conspiracy is, at the very least, delusional.

The Villarruel-Negre case: an institutional embarrassment

Far from strengthening the institutionality of the body she presides over, Villarruel's complaint sets a dangerous precedent: the use of the judicial apparatus as a tool to silence uncomfortable voices. It also exposes excessive sensitivity and an inability to tolerate dissent that contrasts with the position she holds.

Journalism can't work under the threat of being taken to court every time it questions an official. Defending Javier Negre is not just a matter of solidarity: it's a defense of free, plural, and democratic public debate.