A new conflict has erupted in Catalonia between the judicial and executive branches. The region’s High Court has temporarily overturned the dismissal of Antonio José Royo Subías as head of the National Police in Lleida. He was removed from his post after information emerged about a decades-old conviction for sexual harassment—details that resurfaced more than twenty years after the verdict.
Judges concluded that the dismissal violated due process. In particular, Royo was not given a chance to be heard, and the only argument for his suspension was potential harm to the police force’s reputation. As a result, while the appeal is pending, the commander is temporarily reinstated.
Public reaction to the dismissal
The decision to remove Royo sparked widespread public debate. Last December, when the 22-year-old conviction came to light, police leadership rushed to dismiss him from his position in Lleida. The rationale cited was concern for the department’s image and possible discontent among staff and the public.
However, the court noted that the dismissal was not preceded by a disciplinary investigation or the discovery of new violations. In addition, the documents contained no specific evidence pointing to a threat to public safety or police operations. All arguments were based on vague concerns about reputation risks.
Details of the previous conviction
The scandal erupted after media reports revealed that in 2003, Royo was found guilty of harassing a subordinate. At the time, the court sentenced him to a fine and ordered compensation to the victim but did not bar him from holding public office. Back then, he worked in a public order unit and continued his service, later being promoted to commandant in 2017.
The court ruling did not include additional restrictions, as the relevant legal amendments were only introduced in 2022. During his years of service, Royo received several commendations and held responsible positions, including assignments abroad.
Arguments from both sides
The commandant himself argued that his dismissal had caused irreparable damage to his reputation and could result in financial losses, since the position in Lleida came with a significant salary bonus. He also noted that he was close to retirement, and a hasty decision could prevent him from being reinstated before he was due to retire.
The Ministry of the Interior, on the other hand, maintained that the temporary suspension did not violate Royo’s rights or lead to irreversible consequences. Ministry representatives cited the management’s authority to independently appoint their leadership team and to respond to public outcry.
Court’s position
The judges emphasized that the dismissal was not connected to any new misconduct or threat to service. They noted a lack of concrete evidence supporting the need for urgent suspension. Moreover, the decision to remove him from office did not cite facts indicating any violations at work or a threat to public order.
The court also noted that the case files did not include the original 2003 court resolution, only references to press reports. According to the judges, this suggests that the dismissal decision was made under public pressure rather than based on objective evidence.
Career path
During the proceedings, the court highlighted Royo’s impeccable 41-year police career. Throughout this time, he received more than 80 commendations and held senior positions, including in international organizations. He had no disciplinary actions or incidents that could call his professionalism into question.
The judges stressed that the absence of specific complaints about the commandant’s work and the formal nature of the arguments regarding reputational risks could not justify such a serious personnel decision. As a result, Royo was temporarily reinstated pending a final ruling on his appeal.
