Badalona's opposition parties have criticised the municipal government's decision to directly appoint Agustí Rodríguez Mas as the new chief executive officer of Badalona Comunicació, the public body overseeing the city's television, radio, and digital news portal.
The move follows the departure of the previous general manager, Xavier Casanovas, who left to direct news services at Betevé. Unlike the previous appointment, the current government did not open a public tender for the role, prompting a joint statement of discontent from PSC, ERC, Badalona en Comú Podem, and Guanyem.
These parties view the decision as "a step back in terms of transparency and good practices in the management of municipal public media," arguing it was "adopted unilaterally." They also suggest that much of the technical work needed for a public tender was already completed for the previous vacancy.
Council Defends Appointment
Badalona City Council officials defended the appointment, stating that Rodríguez was named chief executive to prevent a "power vacuum for several months" and to ensure important matters were not delayed following the former manager's personal decision to leave. They added that the appointment is temporary until a new general manager position can be publicly advertised, and that it has the approval of Badalona Comunicació's worker representatives.
The opposition, however, warns that the decision "could violate the principles of merit, capacity, and publicity that must govern public sector contracting, as well as good governance recommendations in the audiovisual field." They also pointed out that while Rodríguez has business management experience, he does not hold a degree in journalism or communication sciences, a qualification that would likely have been required in an open selection process.
New CEO's Background
The municipal government highlighted Rodríguez's "accredited curriculum." His experience includes 18 years as a communication consultant and communication director for AENA in Catalonia, as well as roles with Infraestructures de la Generalitat and RCD Espanyol. He has also worked for media outlets such as Cadena SER, COPE, TV3, and Radio Minuto, and contributed to RTVE, La Vanguardia, and Onda Cero.
With municipal elections scheduled for next year, the controversy adds to political tensions in Badalona. The opposition continues to press for adherence to public sector hiring standards, while the council maintains its temporary appointment is necessary for operational continuity.
