Salvador Illa's chief of staff resigns, under judicial investigation

BarcelonaImportant movement in the sub-government of the President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, in the midst of the pre-campaign for the Spanish elections. His chief of staff, Eduard Rivas, has resigned a few days after the secrecy of the investigation was lifted in the case in which he is being investigated and which probes into public contracts of the Esparreguera council, where he was mayor of this municipality between 2015 and 2024. In his place, the leader of the PSC has appointed the current Secretary of Local Governments and Relations with the Aran, Xavier Amor, according to a statement issued by the Government this Monday night. The change will take effect this Tuesday.

When it became known that he was being investigated for alleged irregularities last March, the President of the Generalitat closed ranks with Rivas and presidential sources assured that they maintained "full confidence in his person". The same sources asserted that Illa's chief of staff was the "first one interested" in having the investigation clarified "as soon as possible". For the moment, however, the case remains open—although the secrecy of the investigation was lifted last Thursday—and Rivas submitted his resignation this Friday to Illa. Be that as it may, presidential sources assure that Rivas has left the head of Government's cabinet by "his own decision". "The President of the Generalitat de Catalunya appreciates the commitment and services rendered", the statement adds.

The Mossos seized Rivas's phone and included the information they extracted from it in the case, but in a separate piece that remains secret and of which, therefore, at least until now the exact content has not transpired. Last Thursday, however, the secrecy of the investigation was lifted and the very next day Rivas presented his resignation, which will be effective this Tuesday, when the Executive Council will be held.

In any case, Rivas has issued a statement in which he assures that he is "convinced of having always acted in accordance with the law and, following the values of honor and ethics". "I have always understood and practiced politics defending the common good and transparency", notes the Government's chief of staff. Thus, the former mayor of Esparreguera assures that he has submitted his resignation because he does not want "there to be any shadow of doubt that could interfere with the development of the responsibility that I held until now". Nevertheless, the chief of staff to the president of the Generalitat points out that he will continue working in the service of the citizenry from the Socialist Party of Catalonia. "I am closing a stage of which I feel very honored and I am very grateful for President Illa's trust", adds Rivas.

Illa's new strongman

Xavier Amor (Pineda, 1975) was until now the Secretary of Local Governments and Relations with the Aran, and is a historic voice of the PSC's municipal world. He was mayor of Pineda de Mar for 17 years, between 2007 and 2024, and had previously been a councilor for two terms in the Maresme town council. He also presided over the Federation of Municipalities of Catalonia between 2013 and 2019, and was a member of the Consumer and Trade Commission of the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) between 2011 and 2015. He holds a degree in Business Administration and Management, and has completed studies in Commerce and Public Sector Governance.