Baluarte
06-04-2013, 05:03 PM
COPENHAGEN - Denmark's Parliament has adopted a law change that restricts public access to some government documents despite protests from press freedom advocates.
Justice Minister Morten Boedskov said Tuesday that the amendment to Denmark's 1985 public information law improves transparency by easing restrictions on documents from local authorities.
But critics have objected to sections that block access to internal documents exchanged between government ministers and subordinate departments or other ministries.
Last month, the Vienna-based International Press Institute said the law would prevent journalists from giving voters the information they need to hold government officials accountable.
Protesters handed a petition with some 85,000 signatures to Boedskov on Monday.
The amendment, which will take effect on Jan. 1, 2014, was approved Tuesday in a 99-42 vote, with 38 lawmakers absent or abstaining.
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Justice Minister Morten Boedskov said Tuesday that the amendment to Denmark's 1985 public information law improves transparency by easing restrictions on documents from local authorities.
But critics have objected to sections that block access to internal documents exchanged between government ministers and subordinate departments or other ministries.
Last month, the Vienna-based International Press Institute said the law would prevent journalists from giving voters the information they need to hold government officials accountable.
Protesters handed a petition with some 85,000 signatures to Boedskov on Monday.
The amendment, which will take effect on Jan. 1, 2014, was approved Tuesday in a 99-42 vote, with 38 lawmakers absent or abstaining.
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