Controversy over the hiring of a daughter of Sílvia Orriols as a local police agent in Ripoll

BarcelonaThe Ripoll City Council has hired one of the daughters of the town's mayor, Sílvia Orriols, as an interim local police officer. Orriols herself announced this at the plenary session on Tuesday evening and made it clear that she had not placed "anyone in a position" and that she had "absolutely abstained from participating in anything affecting the process," even though she was the one who appointed the tribunal formed by officers of the corps. "Just as I cannot benefit her with my position, I also cannot prevent her from fulfilling her dream," she stated in response to the opposition's reproaches. The position was announced as "urgent" to guarantee the "correct provision of service" given the "structural understaffing of officers," Orriols pointed out.

Orriols gave explanations with the aim of avoiding criticism that she could not silence. "To prevent anyone from buying into the opposition's fantasy narrative and questioning the prestige of the institution, my loyalty to my position, or my daughter's merits, I will explain the process in detail," argued the also leader of Aliança Catalana. "From the beginning, when she told me she would apply, I knew the risk we were running," admitted Orriols, who was wearing a Local Police t-shirt.

The law on the legal regime of the public sector establishes that in cases of close relationship or kinship, the political responsible party must withdraw from the call. Therefore, if a public official, in this case Orriols as mayor, intervenes in any phase of the procedure when there is a conflict of interest, it may violate the duty of abstention and, where appropriate, lead to the challenge of the process or administrative responsibilities. Awaiting whether it is challenged, Junts has already called on Orriols to "delegate the powers of the Security department to avoid a conflict of interest." Thus, spokesperson Ferran Raigon demanded "institutional exemplary conduct" after the mayor's daughter joined the Local Police.

Sources from ERC note that the procedure is likely "legal, but unethical" and question whether Orriols wants to champion "the renewal of politics". Orriols reappeared this Wednesday morning in a media address where he did not allow questions from the media: "There has been no type of preferential treatment or interference, what interests them is to spread rumors pointing to my daughter trying to gather votes desperately," Orriols stated, who urged those with doubts to challenge the procedure or remain silent.

The mayor detailed that the local police officer position was called to cover "the vacation period and the current lack of staff". In fact, the text of the decree calling for positions argues that the body is experiencing a "critical operational situation that directly affects the effectiveness and efficiency of the essential public service of citizen security" and that it is an "unavoidable necessity to guarantee the correct provision of the service".

In the same document, it is argued that the mayor holds the "superior command of the local police and the competence to direct security policy in the municipality". At the same time, she is also granted the "competence to issue" the resolution calling for positions. According to the explanations given by Orriols, 24 people registered for the selection process, although finally only 15 took the written test.

Fifteen applicants for the position

At this point, the mayor said that the written test was drafted "minutes before the exam by the head of the area and the acting head of the local police force to avoid the slightest leak". At the same time, she detailed, the applicants identified themselves with their ID numbers and not with names and surnames "so that whoever corrected it would not know the identity of the applicants".

The written test, Orriols pointed out, was passed by only 5 people and her daughter "got the best grade". These 5 applicants had to undergo a personal interview which, according to Orriols, was led by the head of the area and three local police commanders. Immediately after, the mayor detailed, an average was calculated between the written test and the personal interview and "only three applicants passed it". Of these, Orriols concluded, her daughter "obtained first place with more than two points over the second".

Orriols wanted to make it clear that the process "has complied with current regulations and protocols" and recalled that since 2007 political officials "cannot participate or be present in personnel selection processes".