Junts per Catalunya challenges Mayor Sílvia Orriols after her daughter is hired as interim police officer. The party demands she hand over security duties to avoid a conflict of interest. The mayor defends the process.
Political tensions have escalated in Ripoll after Junts per Catalunya publicly questioned Mayor Sílvia Orriols regarding the urgent appointment of her daughter as an interim officer in the local police. The party, the only group in the town council to openly confront Orriols on the issue, has called for her to relinquish her authority over security matters to prevent any conflict of interest, given her dual role as both mayor and head of the police force.
The controversy centers on the recent hiring of Guinadell Orriols, the mayor’s eldest daughter, through an emergency procedure justified by what the council described as an “unavoidable need” to ensure public safety. This rapid process stands in contrast to a previously announced competitive exam for police positions, which was delayed for six months after its initial launch in January.
During a tense council session, Junts representative Ferran Raigon reminded Orriols of her past criticisms of political opponents for allegedly favoring relatives in public appointments. He pointed out that she is now the first mayor in Ripoll’s history to have a family member on the municipal payroll, and emphasized that her direct oversight of the police could create a perception of bias. Raigon insisted that, to maintain transparency, Orriols should delegate her security responsibilities to another councillor.
Orriols, who also leads Aliança Catalana, rejected the demand, maintaining that the selection process was conducted properly and that she only interacts with the operational chief of the police, not with individual officers. She argued there was no incompatibility, stating that her daughter’s appointment was not a personal decision but the result of a formal selection. Orriols added that she had considered advising her daughter not to apply, but ultimately saw no reason to prevent her from participating.
The debate intensified as Raigon accused the mayor of only telling “half the truth,” noting that she had set the terms of the selection process and chosen the members of the evaluation panel. He cited legal requirements for public officials to recuse themselves from decisions involving family members. Orriols responded that she had only validated the candidate list provided by technical staff and had delegated the final signing of the appointment to another councillor.
Municipal secretary Gerard Soldevila defended the integrity of the process, noting that the urgency could have justified an even simpler procedure. However, questions remain about the timing: the official opposition process for a permanent police position was only reactivated in June, coinciding with the fast-track appointment of Orriols’ daughter. The list of candidates who passed the first stage of the competitive exam was published just days after the interim appointment was made by mayoral decree.
A council spokesperson clarified that there are no fixed deadlines between the approval of exam criteria and the official call for candidates. The ongoing competition for a permanent police role, which awards points for prior police experience, is still pending the formation of a selection panel. Guinadell Orriols is among the nine candidates eligible for this process.
In a personal exchange, Orriols questioned Raigon’s own actions, referencing his request to complete an internship at a municipal facility and asking whether she had denied him due to his political role. This back-and-forth highlighted the broader debate over ethical standards in local government appointments.
The situation in Ripoll reflects a wider scrutiny of public sector hiring practices in Catalonia, where political divisions and transparency concerns have surfaced in other recent cases. For example, the reappointment of David Bondia as Barcelona’s ombudsman also drew attention to the selection process and the role of political influence, as detailed in this report on the city council’s divided vote.
In Spain, public officials are legally required to avoid participating in decisions that could benefit close relatives, a rule designed to uphold impartiality and public trust. The ongoing debate in Ripoll may prompt further discussion about how local governments manage urgent staffing needs while maintaining transparency and fairness. The outcome of the permanent police recruitment process, and whether Guinadell Orriols secures a long-term position, is likely to remain under close observation.
