Ripoll’s opposition intensifies scrutiny of the mayor after her daughter’s urgent appointment as interim police officer. PSC now demands a full independent audit of the hiring process and public disclosure of all findings.
Pressure is mounting on Ripoll’s mayor, Sílvia Orriols, after the urgent appointment of her eldest daughter as an interim local police officer triggered calls for a full independent audit. The PSC group has formally requested that an external team review the entire recruitment process, citing unresolved questions about transparency and the mayor’s direct involvement in the selection.
The controversy centers on the rapid procedure initiated by the municipal government on June 11, which opened a 12-day window for applications to fill a police vacancy that had remained unoccupied for months. Requirements included being of legal age, holding a high school diploma, a medium level of Catalan, and a driving license. While police experience was not mandatory, it could be considered. The process was marked as urgent and conducted through direct selection, raising concerns among opposition parties about the fairness and openness of the competition.
PSC councillors insist they are not questioning the candidates themselves but argue that the circumstances—especially the selection of a direct family member of the mayor—demand maximum transparency. They have called for an external audit to clarify whether all legal requirements, including the obligation for the mayor to abstain from involvement, were strictly observed. The audit should have access to all documentation and its conclusions must be made public, according to the PSC’s formal submission.
Among the issues PSC wants addressed are the reasons for the urgent call, the limited nature of the process, the criteria used for evaluating candidates, the scores awarded, the current staffing situation in the local police, and the composition of the selection panel. Notably, the current head of the municipal police, Francesc Campayo, was not part of the three-person tribunal, a detail that has added to the controversy given his ongoing dispute with the mayor’s office over a separate disciplinary matter.
Calls for accountability have grown since Junts first demanded that Orriols step aside from her security responsibilities. The PSC’s move now brings together key opposition forces in demanding a thorough review. The case has already drawn significant attention, with previous coverage highlighting the ethical debate around the mayor’s decision. For further background on the initial backlash and the broader political context, see this detailed report on the controversy surrounding the mayor’s appointment of her daughter.
In Spain, public sector hiring is subject to strict legal frameworks designed to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure equal access. Municipalities are required to document all stages of recruitment, and any deviation from standard procedures—especially in urgent or direct appointments—can trigger both political and legal scrutiny. The outcome of the audit in Ripoll could set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in other towns, particularly where family ties intersect with public office. The situation also reflects ongoing tensions in Catalan local politics, where issues of transparency and governance remain highly sensitive.
