Mariano Rajoy claims that the "greatest challenge" facing RTVE is "adapting to the changes taking place in the audiovisual world"

Lower House of Parliament, Madrid

During the government control session in the Lower House of Parliament, the President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, stressed that this year Spanish State Television (RTVE) will close its accounts "without any kind of deficit". He also referred to the commemoration of World AIDS Day on Thursday, "a reminder to us all to continue fighting this disease and other sexually transmitted diseases".

In response to a question from the Spokesperson for the Socialist Group in the Lower House, the President of the Government defended the plurality and independence of the professionals who work for RTVE.

He also pointed out that, as a result of new technologies, the habits of modern society have changed, and hence "the greatest challenge facing Spanish State Television at this time is adapting to the changes taking place in the audiovisual world".

RTVE, without a deficit this year

As regards the financial situation of RTVE, Mariano Rajoy recalled that two important decisions were made by the previous Socialist government: on the one hand, the layoff plan (Spanish acronym: ERE) which "cost taxpayers 1.5 billion euros" and, on the other hand, the removal of advertising, "which left RTVE without any income".

However, "this year Spanish State Television will close its accounts without any kind of deficit", he added. As regards audience figures, the President of the Government stressed that, according to the figures for the month of November, "the News Services of the RTVE Corporation showed the highest number of viewers of any channel".

Division of powers

Pablo Iglesias, representative of Unidos Podemos-En Comú Podem-En Marea, asked Mariano Rajoy how the government will implement the decisions of the legislative power. In his response, the President of the Government explained that "fortunately" we operate "in a system with a division of powers", in which "each one has its own functions", as contained in the 1978 Spanish Constitution.

The President of the Government also added that "it is a question of respecting the competences of each power" because "this is a democracy with three powers, each with its own functions and each operating independently".

World AIDS Day

Pool Moncloa/Diego CrespoThe question from the MP for Esquerra Republicana [the Republican Left], Gabriel Rufián, on encouraging the use of condoms, was prompted by the commemoration of World AIDS Day on Thursday. Mariano Rajoy pointed out that 1 December is "a reminder to us all to continue fighting this disease and other sexually transmitted diseases".

The President of the Government added that although "a great deal of progress has been made in recent times" in terms of prevention and treatment, it is essential to continue working, above all with high-risk groups, particularly teenagers.

In this regard, Mariano Rajoy made a commitment to "stepping up" the efforts made by the public authorities and recalled that policies in this area are coordinated through the "Strategic Plan on the Prevention and Control of HIV infections and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), a plan coordinated by the Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality which "is agreed upon with the regional departments of health and scientific societies".