Pimec promotes breaking with the president of Conpymes, the Spanish employers' association he founded

BarcelonaThe relationship between the president of the Spanish employers' association Conpymes, José María Torres, and the Catalan Pimec, one of the founders of this organization, which was established in May 2021, is rapidly deteriorating. So much so that Pimec is considering promoting a split from this organization or achieving a change in the presidency, according to close sources. Torres, who headed the only candidacy for the presidency and renewal of the board in the electoral process that opened last October, has chosen to proclaim himself winner again during the organization's assembly held this Thursday in Madrid, with the majority of affiliated organizations against him.

During the questions and answers section, attendees expressed their opposition to Torres's way of operating, and he limited himself to stating that he would provide a written response, according to some sources. "I have never seen what [Torres] is doing before," say consulted sources. The tension has meant that the renewal of the rest of the board of directors that will accompany Torres has not even been announced. Through a statement, he explained that it will be announced "in the coming days," and added that a "profound renewal of positions and statutes will be carried out so that it is an organization that defends the interests of SMEs and self-employed workers in our country more effectively."

Torres, who has held the position since November 2021, is a businessman in the technology sector, founder of the Numintec group. Pimec, which was a promoter of Conpymes with the aim of counterbalancing the CEOE, currently maintains a very tense relationship after Torres organized a trade mission to Israel last November, amid tension between Benjamin Netanyahu's government and Pedro Sánchez's.

At that time, sources from the Catalan employers' association completely disassociated themselves from Torres's initiative and explained that they have their own structures and agendas regarding foreign relations and other activities. Since then, the relationship with Torres of the organization presided over by Antoni Cañete has deteriorated significantly, according to informed sources. Now, this employers' association wants to group together the maximum number of organizations that are part of it to promote that "either he goes or the rest go," say the consulted sources. The possibility of challenging the assembly is even being considered.

One of Conpymes' objectives is to finalize its participation in social dialogue, a goal that Pimec also pursues. The Conpymes note also highlights that it aims to "grow the organization in number of members and representativeness and reaffirm the organization's independence". Torres has stated in the Conpymes note that this organization "was born and is solely at the service of Spanish SMEs and self-employed workers", and that it serves "no other interest than that of the small businesses in this country", and therefore wants to be present in social dialogue.