Journalist Pilar Smith spoke publicly after the controversial assembly of the Argentine Television and Radio Journalists Association (APTRA) and stated that she feels "totally prejudiced" by a decision that, she claimed, was made without respecting the established times or statutory guarantees. According to information from the Noticias Argentinas agency, on the show "Desayuno Americano", she reported that her situation will be addressed through legal channels together with her lawyer. Smith explained that the assembly was originally scheduled for this Friday, a date when she could attend as she had planned her only week of vacation for the year. However, the meeting was brought forward. "When they changed the date, I spoke with Luis Ventura and he told me to stay calm, that nothing would be decided," she recounted, adding that she had put her position on record in an email sent to the board of directors. The journalist stated that she decided not to attend because she understood that only the different situations would be presented and no resolutions would be made: "I never thought that an expulsion would be voted on." "It's like in politics: one starts a fire and drags the others with it," she graphically described. Despite everything, the journalist noted that she received messages of support from numerous colleagues, although she regretted that many were not present at the time of the vote. On the other side, Nancy Duré also spoke out and defended the results of the assembly. In an audio message aired on the air, she stated that her intervention was "strong" and assured that she felt backed by the members. "I'm moved by the support I received. I didn't insult or offend anyone," she said, defending her right to express herself as a journalist. "No one should defend freedom of expression more than a journalist," she emphasized. The host also suggested that there might be an internal political maneuver behind the situation: "There may be people within APTRA who want to disqualify me, and the best way was to drag me along with Evelyn," she hinted, referring to Evelyn Von Brocke. In this context, she directly accused Nancy Duré of having initiated and fueled the conflict from the very beginning. "Ever since I criticized the Martín Fierro Latino, Nancy has spoken ill of me in all the programs," Smith assured, comparing the situation to an internal political logic of wear and tear. "That is extremely serious." In this context, Smith denied having acted in bad faith when expressing her criticisms about the Martín Fierro Latino awards: "I gave an opinion with arguments. I did not violate any article of the statutes, we reviewed it with my lawyer until a moment ago. They want to expel me for my opinion."
