The RTVE Council must be renewed before November 23 after lowering the parliamentary majorities

The Official State Gazette (BOE) has published the royal decree approved by the Government to urgently renew the Board of Directors of RTVEmodifying the parliamentary majorities necessary for its renewal and expanding the number of councilors from ten to 15. Thus, this renewal must take place before November 23.

The royal decree, signed by the president of the Government, Pedro Sanchezmodifies the law on state public radio and television, with the aim of adopting “urgent measures” to regulate the legal regime of RTVE. The reform will come into force on October 24, and the Presidencies of the Congress and the Senate must begin the process of selecting the new counselors.

This procedure must be concluded within a maximum period of 30 days from the publication of the decree in the BOE. Once the 15 new members of the Council are appointed, the mandate of the current councilors will end, although may be eligible for re-election. Subsequently, Congress will appoint the president of RTVE in accordance with the provisions of the law.

One of the main modifications is that A two-thirds majority will no longer be necessary in both chambers for the election of councilors. If this majority is not achieved in a first vote, an absolute majority will suffice 48 hours later. Likewise, the number of councilors is expanded to 15, with 11 elected by Congress and four by the Senate.

The rule, approved in the Council of Ministers, was proposed by ministers Félix Bolaños, María Jesús Montero and Óscar López, who defended the measure as a solution to the “institutional blockage” in RTVE. The decree seeks to facilitate the election of directors, guarantee pluralism and ensure stability and professionalism in the Board of Directors.

López highlighted this Tuesday that in recent years RTVE has had four presidents and that, currently, of the ten members of the Board of Directorssix have expired mandate. “There is a paradox, RTVE has broad citizen support. It is the second most watched channel in the country and at the same time it is the one that is given the most credibility by citizens according to the latest Reuters report,” he indicated.

López also stressed that the new Council will be the “most plural in history“, emphasizing the Government’s intention to reinforce plurality within the public corporation.