The Spanish government's commissioner for DANA resigns following the controversy over his studies.

Valencia / BarcelonaAfter two days of political and media pressure, the Spanish government commissioner for the reconstruction of the DANA (National Highway Administration) in the Valencian Community, José María Ángel Batalla, has resigned due to the controversy over the qualifications with which he obtained a civil servant position in the Valencia Provincial Council 43 years ago. Ángel Batalla has claimed to have suffered an "unjustified attack" that has caused him "enormous" personal harm and continues to deny cheating.

The case that has ended the political career of the former regional secretary of Emergencies of the Generalitat Valenciana during the years of Ximo Puig's government began following an anonymous complaint to the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency, which allegedly detected that the university degree with which the socialist gained access to a social world. According to the investigation, the politician did not have any higher education degree but only a high school diploma. In fact, the University of Valencia has explained that in 1986, the year in which the document was allegedly attached (dated September 2, 1983), it did not offer any degree in library and information science and that it was not incorporated until 1990. After learning of the facts, the Prosecutor's Office has initiated preliminary proceedings.

In a letter addressed to the Minister of Territorial Policy dated this Thursday, to which ARA has had access, the former commissioner insists that he has "never" falsified any document and "never" used "any false document to access any position." "My love for my party, my colleagues, my commitment to the government and my president lead me to make this decision to avoid being a member of that tireless campaign of attrition that causes me great pain," says Ángel Batalla. He also explains that, from now on, he is retiring and will dedicate himself to defending his "honesty and honor."

Ángel Batalla's position will be filled by Zulima Pérez Seguí, the current coordinator of the committee of experts for the reconstruction of the areas affected by the DANA (Basque Land Damage). The new senior official—who will be appointed at the Council of Ministers on August 26, the first since the summer strike—currently served as an advisor to the Secretariat of State for Territorial Policy. Seguí holds a doctorate in law and a degree in political science and administration. She has also served as Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Model and as Director General of Social Dialogue Coordination during the years of the progressive government of the Generalitat Valenciana (Valencian Government), headed by Ximo Puig.

The discrediting of Ángel Batalla's figure is a significant blow to the Valencian Socialists, given that in recent months the PSPV (Socialist Party of Valencia) had insisted on contrasting the management of emergencies carried out during the last two progressive legislatures with that carried out in the same position by Emilio Arsell Pradas, especially during the 2024 DANA (National Anti-Drug Reduction) in the Valencian Community. In fact, in recognition of his prestige, the former senior official was appointed president of the PSPV (Socialist Party of Valencia), a position he is now also leaving.

The PP: "Sánchez appointed a swindler"

Reactions to the resignation were swift. On the one hand, Spain's First Vice President and Minister of Finance, María Jesús Montero, stated in an interview on Spanish National Television (TVE) that the resigning party did "the coherent and appropriate thing." "We must lead by example," she added. The PP's reaction has been very different. PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo stated in his assessment that it is more serious than "falsifying a degree" because "we are no longer dealing with an ethical issue, but rather a criminal case," he emphasized. Sources from the conservative party assert that the resignation "evidences that the government appointed a fraudster to manage the reconstruction of the DANA." For the PP, Ángel Batalla's departure is not enough, and they hold Pedro Sánchez responsible, demanding that he recover "every last cent" earned by the former commissioner "if it is proven that he has been holding a position without the corresponding qualifications."

The PP has insisted on the strategy of placing Sánchez in the spotlight and has emphasized that they expect to "feel the statements" from the head of the executive on the matter and an "apology." The PP has ironically stated that José María Ángel Batalla is "at the same level as the president of the government," whom they accuse of plagiarizing his doctoral thesis. They have also equated this with the PSOE's "ethical threshold" that would have allowed the Cerdán case of alleged corruption involving the last two socialist organization secretaries involved, but also with the alleged falsification of the CV of the Spanish government's delegate in the Valencian Community, Pilar Bernabé.