RTVE's new president will ask the State for a bailout and announces salary cuts

RTVE has caused controversy after requesting a financial bailout from the Government to overcome its delicate situation. The request comes due to the corporation's financial losses, which will close 2024 with an estimated deficit of 34 million euros (37.4 million dollars).

This figure could vary, but the situation remains serious. The president of RTVE, José Pablo López, appeared before the Congress of Deputies, where he addressed the difficult financial situation  facing the public corporation.

José Pablo López explained that RTVE has requested a capital injection from the State Society of Industrial Participations. The bailout is based on a reserve fund of 38.3 million euros (42.1 million dollars), which will allow it to cope with the losses.

However, what has caused discontent is that public resources, that is, taxpayers' funds, will be used to save RTVE from the economic crisis.

López pointed out that RTVE's losses are also due to the accumulated debt, which will rise to 430 million euros (471.5 million dollars) in 2024. Additionally, the president of the corporation highlighted that the final financial balance is still pending, which could modify the figures presented. Despite efforts to improve the internal situation, the bailout request remains a very controversial topic in public opinion.

The main argument of the critics is that citizens will have to bear the cost of RTVE's crisis, a public corporation. Many consider it unfair that public resources continue to be allocated to RTVE when there are other sectors that also need economic support in difficult times. Detractors argue that taxpayers should not be responsible for the corporation's poor financial management.

During his appearance, José Pablo López also spoke about the internal measures RTVE will implement to reduce costs. One of them is the reduction in the number of management positions, a cut that will affect the salaries of senior officials.

The salary cut will also be applied to other executives, who will see a 20% reduction in their remuneration. This measure has been criticized by some who claim that the cuts are not enough to solve RTVE's structural problems. Despite these efforts, the main criticism remains the reliance on public funds to cover the losses.

In addition to salary cuts, RTVE plans to implement more austerity measures to reduce spending. A commission will be created to control expenses related to travel, allowances, and employee travel.

According to López, employees will have to justify all their expenses, and a 7% reduction in the budget is expected. This measure aims to limit operational costs, although it doesn't solve the underlying problem.