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Over the past few weeks, Operation Deluxe has become the subject of political debate in Parliament. The reason: a controversy related to the program Late Xou, a new interview format broadcast on RTVE Catalunya that since its premiere on January 15 has been pointed out due to alleged irregularitieson the part of its producer, Minuto de Barras, S.L. Audiovisual company owned by the presenter of the program, Marc Giró, and his partner, the journalist and former talk show host of Telecinco, Santi Villas.

As revealed by the Huffington Post last March, in this new evening show work several professionals of La Fábrica de la Tele. Producer accused in the Deluxe Case, which investigates the espionage and the revelation of secrets of celebrities such as Omar Montes, Kiko Rivera, Isabel Pantoja, Rosario Mohedano or Belén Esteban, among hundreds of others.

This indirect link with the producer of Sálvame could hinder the progressof a project that seeks to be the reference late show in Catalonia. A format of humor and light conversation that, in the purest Buenafuente or Broncano style, has sat on its chester sofa characters such as Rocío Carrasco, Santi Millán, Yolanda Ramos, Laura Fa or Jedet.

Those affected by the Deluxe Case: Isabel Pantoja, Rosario Mohedano, Andrés Fernández and Omar MontesGTRES

In his last mischievous interview, Giró met both deconstructed nun Sister Lucia Caram and artist Samantha Hudson. Queer singer-songwriter and composer of Soy Maricón, a coarse and comic song whose protagonist is a gay Christian who is torn between his faith and his desire to have anal sex with Jesus Christ.

But not everything is laughter and play on the sets of RTVE Catalunya. At 11 a.m. on March 28, Deputy Eduardo Carazo, of the Popular Party, echoed a complaint issued from the corridors of the chain. He did it in the Upper House, during the Joint Commission of Parliamentary Control of RTVE. Meeting held monthly so that members of the Congress and the Senate can ensure the proper functioning of the corporation.

"Last September Late Xou was presented with the intention of being the flagship of TVE in Catalonia, but it was not approved until two months later. First anomaly," Carazo snapped at Elena Sánchez Caballero during the session. In this question addressed to the current interim president of RTVE, the congressman asked for explanations about certain actions that he considers reprehensible.

Samantha Hudson and Sister Lucía Caram at Late XouRTVE Catalunya

"Apparently, the first planned production company was La Fábrica de la Tele, but it was discouraged because of its link to the competition, Mediaset, and its involvement in the Deluxe Case," said the politician. "It was then proposed to the production company Minuto de Barras, S.L, and it was not accepted because of its lack of experience in the production of television content. But in November 2022 the impediments disappear and the inexperienced producer became responsible for the program."

"Two experts are hired whose career has been developed in La Fábrica de la Tele, a producer who worked for Mediaset and, by the way, for Telemadrid while it was directed by the current president of content of TVE, José Pablo López", he described about his suspicions of an alleged connection between both producers. In his speech, he also mentioned the complaint that the RTVE Catalunya committee unanimously approved raising alleging "humiliating treatment" by the producer to several workers of the channel.

In conversation with LOC, the politician maintains what was said in his speech, from which he regrets not having obtained a convincing response from Elena Sánchez. "He just told me how fantastic the audience is. Something that is a manipulation because it has referred only to the good data that Rocío Carrasco's program left them, "he highlights about this format, whose share is usually around 3% and that the night he received Rocío Jurado's daughter rose to 4.9% of screen share.

On March 3 and 15, Carazo and other PP deputies presented two questions in Congress oriented in the same direction. At the moment, no explanation satisfies them.

THE REPLICA OF RTVE

This media has contacted RTVE Catalunya and its director of program production, Laura Folguera, agrees to clarify some points. "We received the committee's complaint, we met with its members and they told us that there had been no unanimity, that no union had come forward. The brief was filed without being able to change it. They had to sign it, period," he says.

"RTVE began to investigate, because we do not allow humiliating treatment. Perhaps there was a phrase that, taken out of context, could offend someone, but not intimidation. In addition, some workers have expressed their dissatisfaction with the committee, which burst onto the set minutes before the recording papering everything when they had sent us the text only a few hours before. The presenter had an anxiety attack," he said.

Both RTVE and La Fábrica de la Tele assure that the employees they share work for Late Xou because of their "friendship with the directors". There is nothing irregular in its exercise. They also assure that the program is being a success, even outside Catalonia. For now, the debate continues in the Chambers and Marc Giró in the spotlight.

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