Miquel Esquius, chief commissioner of the Mossos d'Esquadra, is set to retire in October, setting up a impressive leadership transition. The process to appoint his successor, overseen by Interior Minister Núria Parlon, is unfolding amid internal disputes and public scrutiny. The wider leadership picture has also shifted: El Periódico reported that police director Josep Lluís Trapero informed Parlon in August that he intended to resign. The newspaper identified Ferran López as the person chosen to lead the Mossos into a new phase. These reports place the succession within a broader reorganisation of the force’s senior command.
The decision is expected to affect more than Esquius’s post, with possible changes across other senior positions. During the controversy over police officers’ infiltration of a teachers’ assembly, Parlon publicly defended Trapero’s continuity. Coverage of the leadership change described her position as “we wanted him to continue.” The reported choice of López follows a period in which the government backed the existing leadership while facing political pressure over the force’s conduct.
Esquius, who previously led the Mossos in 2018, was brought back under the new PSC government, which fulfilled its pledge to name Trapero director of the Catalan police. Commissioners Josep Maria Estela and Alicia Moriana are also on the current leadership team. Superintendent Toni Rodríguez is part of it too. With Esquius’s departure and the reported transition involving Trapero and López, several roles within the command structure may shift.
Recent months have brought heightened tensions within the Interior Department. In May 2026, Interior opened a reserved inquiry into the infiltration of Mossos officers at a teachers’ assembly. Parlon later apologised publicly, and the Generalitat revised procedures for certain infiltrations, saying the method was not an appropriate way to obtain information. A subsequent investigation by El Nacional reported that the Mossos had no documentation about the operation. It also said officers did not record the meeting, either in audio or video.
The incident prompted calls for parliamentary explanations from ERC, Comuns, CUP and Junts. ERC and Comuns called for Trapero’s removal. CUP also called for his removal, while Junts sought appearances by the heads of Interior and Education, including Parlon and Esther Niubó. Salvador Illa’s government subsequently defended Parlon and Trapero after the Parliament’s response to the case. The controversy intensified scrutiny of the relationship between Interior’s political leadership and the Mossos command, although it does not by itself establish the cause of Trapero’s reported resignation.
Another flashpoint was a controversial riot-police operation during a royal visit to Montserrat. Conflicting accounts of an alleged assault led to further scrutiny and a parliamentary hearing. Against that backdrop, Parlon has defended Trapero’s performance, citing his experience and knowledge of security matters. She has also praised Esquius’s leadership while emphasising the need for stability. Trapero, for his part, has described his working relationship with Parlon as collaborative.
The Mossos have experienced frequent leadership changes, with eight chiefs in nine years, some serving multiple terms. This turnover has left lingering internal divisions, though Esquius’s conciliatory approach is credited with improving the atmosphere. Some officers say Trapero’s detailed management style, shaped by his previous operational role, has shifted the balance of authority within the force, sometimes sidelining the second tier of command.
The force is awaiting a long-delayed call for new commissioner appointments. Some hope that promoting younger candidates could help resolve longstanding internal disputes. Others see the delay as reflecting the difficulty of selecting candidates, particularly while taking gender balance into account. Senior officers stress the importance of mixed, balanced teams to ensure progress and stability.
The leadership transition comes as the Mossos continue to face operational challenges, including rising street violence and their involvement in labour disputes. The force’s developing structure and the dynamics between its top officials remain under close watch, especially as Barcelona intensifies its focus on public safety. Recent measures include the installation of hundreds of new surveillance cameras in basic city areas (detailed here).
The Mossos d'Esquadra are Catalonia’s autonomous police force, responsible for public order and criminal investigations, while also supporting local authorities. Leadership changes at the top can affect operational priorities and internal morale. Political leaders and rank-and-file officers are closely watching the transition, with stability and effective coordination basic to the force’s future performance.
