Thursday, March 28

Elena Sánchez defends herself against criticism for the Government’s “assault” on RTVE


The interim president of the Board of Directors of RTVE, Elena Sánchez. / ef

The interim president of the corporation asks not to be the object of the “political contest” and demands a new framework mandate to improve financing

The interim president of the Board of Directors of RTVE, Elena Sánchez, yesterday offered her first appearance in the Congress of Deputies after the resignation of José Manuel Pérez Tornero, in which she defended her appointment and demanded that the deputies leave her name “out » of the «political contest» between the Government and the opposition. The new head of the corporation did not go too far out of the planned script and clarified the financial situation of public broadcasting, where she recognized “certain improvements” (the State will provide a subsidy of 490 million euros in 2023, 10.5% more than the previous budget) although he regretted that “the levels of programming expenses” that RTVE had in 2009 have not yet been reached.

“The stagnation for more than a decade of spending on content production has not been sufficiently compensated by the improvement in recent years,” warned Elena Sánchez, who reiterated, however, that the corporation presents a “balanced budget” that assumes the increase in costs derived from the current economic situation and the progress “in the modernization” of the company. “RTVE offers an essential public service to Spanish society,” highlighted the journalist, who also demanded from the deputies a new framework mandate for the preparation of a contract-program that improves the present and future of state broadcasting.

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As explained in the Budget Committee of the Lower House, the General Law of Audiovisual Communication, which will come into force on January 1, generates “uncertainty” among the new managers of the entity because it will be altered, according to the president, his sources of financing by losing the contribution of the telecommunications operators – which was added to compensate after the suppression of advertising – and incorporating that of the platforms. “These first times require time and adjustment,” revealed Sánchez, who also confirmed that the public employment offer will be opened before December to cover 1,082 temporary stabilization and new entry positions.

Opposition reproaches

Prior to the appearance, Sánchez faced harsh criticism from the opposition parties to the Executive, who questioned his appointment after the resignation of Pérez Tornero and the modification of the Statutes of RTVE to grant powers to his interim presidency. Citizens deputy Guillermo Díaz denounced Moncloa’s “assault” on the corporation, in an operation that he called “illegal” and where he also charged the PP for sharing the members of the Board of Directors with the PSOE. “It is not legitimated to execute some budgets”, he reproached.

The representative of Vox Manuel Mariscal showed his indignation because the money destined for RTVE was increased and questioned the reason for this increase. “He is not going to go to defend the interests of the Spaniards, but for the Government, which is going to need make-up and editing to convince that things are not so bad,” criticized the deputy, who also demanded a reduction in the organizational chart of the corporation – he cited, among other charges, 27 directors who earn 106,000 euros a year between salary and supplements-, something that Elena Sánchez did not rule out that she would do.

On the other hand, Eduardo Carazo, from the PP, recalled that the appointment of the interim presidency was not approved with two thirds of the Chamber, as established by law, and also charged against the “abrupt interference” of Pedro Sánchez in the institutions and the lack, in his opinion, of informative neutrality in the news on public radio and television. Thus, the deputy of United We Can Sofía Castañón asked that RTVE fight “against hoaxes and disinformation”, more in an electoral year, while the representative of the PSOE María Tamara Raya defended the increase in the corporation’s budget, “the highest since 2011”.


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