Spain

[ES] New Decree-Law on the Administration Regime of RTVE Corporation

IRIS 2012-7:1/19

Trinidad García Leiva

Universidad Carlos III, Madrid

On 20 April 2012 the Council of Ministers approved a Royal Decree-Law that modifies the administration regime of the national public service broadcaster, Corporación de Radio y Televisión Española (CRTVE), which has been in place since changes were introduced by Law 17/2006 (see IRIS 2005-9/16 and IRIS 2006-6/19).

The Law stated that the Corporation had to be ruled by a Board of Management composed of twelve members from among whom the President would be chosen. These designations were for six years and subject to obtaining a two-thirds majority in a parliamentary appointment process. The current council members were appointed in January 2007, but after the resignation of successive Presidents of the Corporation in 2009 and 2011, and of two board members subsequently, it was decided that the presidency would rotate among the remaining members until new appointments were made by the Parliament.

In the context of a lack of consensus between the main parties, Partido Popular and Partido Socialista Obrero Español, the Government has decided to approve this new Decree-Law that:

- reduces the number of members of the Council to nine, thereby eliminating two that could be proposed by the most representative unions;

- establishes that in the case where candidate members do not obtain a two-thirds majority in the first round of voting, they can be appointed by absolute majority in a second round after 24 hours; and

- states that the President will be the only member of the Board with a full-time position for which he will be compensated (the others will only be allowed to claim expenses for attending Board meetings).

Additionally, the Decree amends the Ley General de la Comunicación Audiovisual (General Act of Audiovisual Communication, see IRIS 2010-4/21), to guarantee radio broadcasters free access to sports arenas in order to broadcast live sporting events.