Chairman Of Spain Telecom Regulator Resigns Amid Government Row

MADRID -(Dow Jones)- Spain's telecommunications sector regulator, or CMT, said Wednesday its chairman has resigned amid a row with the government over the relocation of the CMT's headquarters to Barcelona.

Carlos Bustelo was named to the post in 1996 by Spain's former government, replaced last year by the now ruling Socialist Party, and his tenure was due to expire in 2008.

The CMT said in a press release that Bustelo is retiring due to "the difficulties involved in the complex and delicate process of moving the commission's headquarters to Barcelona."

Bustelo had publicly expressed opposition to the government's plans. During the 2004 election campaign, the Socialist Party had promised to move some national administrative bodies from Madrid to Barcelona, the second-largest city in the country.

The CMT was created in 1996 as an independent regulator. Its chairman has a renewable six-year mandate and can't be dismissed by the government.

A spokeswoman for the government said the industry ministry will have to propose a candidate to replace Bustelo. The government makes the final decision on the appointment.

CMT Web site: http://www.cmt.es

-By David Roman, Dow Jones Newswires; 34 913958125, david.roman@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires"

Posted to the site on 9th March 2005