Catalan Government and PSC agree on Esther Giménez-Salinas to replace Rafael Ribó as Ombudswoman

BarcelonaEsquerra, Junts per Catalunya and PSC have finally agreed on the names to renew the statutory bodies that had expired during the last parliament. One of the key places to be relieved was the Catalan Ombudsman, Rafael Ribó, pending renewal for two years, and who will be replaced by jurist Esther Giménez-Salinas. They have also agreed on the renewal of the Catalan Media Corporation, which will be chaired by Rosa Romà, accompanied as vice-president by former Catalan minister Àngels Ponsa, alongside Lluís Garriga, Gemma Ribas, Lluís Noguera, Carme Figueras and Pep Riera.

As for the Catalonia's Media Council, it will be chaired by the former chief editor of newspaper El Punt Avui Xevi Xirgo, alongside Rosa Maria Molló, Miquel Miralles, Laura Pinyol and Enric Casas. The Catalan Data Protection Authority will be headed by former Governance minister Meritxell Borràs.

The three parties have also agreed on the renewal of the Statutory Guarantees Council, the Auditor and the Commion for the Access to Public Information. These names will be made public in the coming hours.

As ARA explained, the three political formations had planned a key meeting this Wednesday to decide whether to go forward with the renewal. They have not fulfilled their promise to unblock the situation before the end of the year – they will not take it to the extraordinary plenary session which will be held tomorrow to approve the budget – but they have intensified contacts to agree on the names and leave the renewal on track for early next year. This means that the agreement will begin in parliamentary terms – each body has its respective procedures – from January 2022.