The Mossos d’Esquadra have a new chief after Josep Lluís Trapero resigned in protest over Sílvia Catà’s appointment. Catà is the first woman to lead Catalonia’s police force, taking the post at a tense moment for the institution.
Her selection surprised many. Most speculation had focused on other candidates, especially Montse Estruch from Barcelona, but Interior Minister Núria Parlon made the decision weeks before the summer break. Catà, 53, had been running the Girona region, where she emphasized community-based policing. Her appointment breaks with the expected succession plan. The Generalitat and Interior Ministry announced Catà’s new role alongside Ferran López, who becomes the new police director, in a coordinated change at the top of Mossos d’Esquadra.
Catà is originally from Arenys de Munt and has served in the Mossos d’Esquadra since 1998, making her one of the force’s most experienced veterans.
Catà joined the Mossos in 1998, starting in Internal Affairs before moving into several support roles, including work with the late David Piqué. She led the Mollet del Vallès station in 2018 and 2019, then moved to Barcelona as intendenta, coordinating public safety. In 2022, she became second-in-command in Barcelona under Estruch before taking over as Girona’s regional chief in 2023. Spanish media have cited her management experience in Barcelona and Girona as a basic factor in her selection.
Her appointment has stirred debate within the force. Some officers have questioned the decision, citing Catà’s personal relationship with Joan Miquel Capell, a former Mossos commissioner who now oversees security for the Diputación de Girona. Official statements, but, focus on her professional record and the need for new leadership. Reports from El Independiente and La Vanguardia say the Interior Ministry had long wanted a woman in the top operational post, describing Catà’s selection as a symbolic and institutional basic stage.
With only seven female commissioners currently active, the Interior Ministry made a deliberate choice in appointing a woman to lead. The situation echoes other recent leadership changes in Spain, such as Sara Oviedo’s withdrawal from the PSOE mayoral race in Leganés, which also exposed internal divisions and forced a quick change in direction.
Catà replaces Miquel Esquius, who is retiring, while Ferran López takes over as director general of the police following Trapero’s resignation. President Salvador Illa has already met with López and Catà, confirming the leadership transition at the highest level.
Official statements from the Generalitat and Interior Ministry
Catà faces immediate challenges. The Mossos are dealing with ongoing public-security and internal-cohesion issues as expectations shift within government and among the public. Her background in proximity policing suggests she may push for more community-focused strategies, but high-level dissent and surprise around her appointment mean she will need to establish her authority quickly and steady the force.
Catà’s appointment is historic, but it also highlights the fragility of succession planning and resistance to change within Catalonia’s police. The government’s insistence on a female leader, despite internal pushback, shows a willingness to disrupt established hierarchies. The real test is whether Catà can turn her regional experience into effective leadership at the top and deliver a more responsive police force while overcoming skepticism. The next few months will show whether this approach brings stability or deepens divisions within the Mossos d’Esquadra.
