Esquerra Republicana (ERC), Comuns, and the Candidatura d'Unitat Popular (CUP) have demanded the dismissal of Josep Lluís Trapero, the director general of the Mossos d'Esquadra, in Barcelona. This comes after allegations that Mossos d'Esquadra officers infiltrated teachers' assemblies during recent education protests.
Speaking at a press conference in the Catalan Parliament, ERC deputy Jordi Albert criticised the government's response to what he called “historic” education sector protests. “The mobilisations are historic in the field of education, and this has meant that the government, instead of sitting down to improve teachers' working conditions, has closed the door and blocked the way,” Albert stated.
Albert called for Trapero's immediate removal, saying, “We demand the dismissal of the police director as the person responsible.” He also sought explanations from Interior Minister Núria Parlon and Education Minister Esther Niubó. “What happened yesterday cannot happen again. We also ask for explanations because this is not an isolated incident. There is a clear person responsible,” he warned. Albert also cautioned President Salvador Illa and Minister Parlon, stating, “If this dismissal does not occur, the responsibility will no longer be that of the police director himself.” He clarified that, in his view, the issue is not structural within the police force but rather one of political leadership.
ERC Calls for Urgent Explanations
The ERC deputy accused the executive of choosing confrontation over dialogue. “We see that the response to these mobilisations is more police, instead of more dialogue. We have conveyed this to them on repeated occasions,” he said. Albert stressed his party's willingness to negotiate, adding, “From ERC, we are ready to improve working conditions in our country.”
Albert extended his criticism beyond the alleged infiltrations, pointing to other measures he believes indicate a worrying trend. “The response cannot be more Mossos, nor pilot programmes for Mossos in educational centres, nor infiltrations,” he stated. He described sending infiltrators to a teachers' assembly as “inadmissible” and “intolerable,” calling it a “matter of extreme gravity” that undermines workers' right to organise. Such actions, he warned, “have no place in a democratic country” and “place the Mossos force in a difficult position, generating a lack of trust among citizens.”
Albert questioned the extent of these practices, asking, “How many more times must this have happened? It was discovered yesterday, but were there more in other assemblies? Is this a strategy of the current government? Is this the response of the left-wing government?” He also challenged the justification for police action, asking, “Does a strike really go against the public security of the country? The regulations they refer to do not exist in these cases.” He concluded by urging that political decisions align with current budgetary and national priorities.
CUP Accuses Government of Impunity
CUP deputy Xavier Pellicer strongly criticised the Interior Department, demanding immediate accountability for the Mossos' infiltrations into teachers' assemblies. Pellicer called the department's statement “lamentable,” claiming it “de facto confirmed very serious facts.” He alleged that police officers posed as teachers to “prospectively extract information” without judicial order, violating fundamental rights such as assembly and protest. Pellicer warned this was not an isolated incident but part of “a harassment campaign” against the teaching movement.
Pellicer placed political responsibility on the government's leadership, accusing the executive of allowing these practices. “We believe they want to and can because President Salvador Illa's message is very clear: do what you want and you have a free hand to act with absolute impunity,” he stated, also pointing to Interior Minister Núria Parlon. Pellicer noted these actions occur within a broader context of pressure, including “a hundred sanctions” linked to the mobilisations, and questioned if infiltrations are a common police practice.
The CUP demanded immediate resignations, focusing on police director Josep Lluís Trapero. “The person responsible for the operation must be dismissed. The police director, Josep Lluís Trapero, if he was aware of it, must also be dismissed, and if he was not, also,” Pellicer declared. He called for “apologies, rectifications, and resignations,” as well as urgent parliamentary appearances to clarify the facts and ensure such actions “will not happen again,” with all political responsibilities addressed.
Comuns Join Calls for Trapero's Removal
David Cid, spokesperson for the Comuns in Parliament, joined the call for Trapero's dismissal via a post on X. “24 hours have passed without the Interior Department giving any explanation or apology about the infiltration of Mossos into a teachers' assembly, despite asking for it publicly and privately,” Cid wrote. He added, “Responsibilities must be assumed, and the Director General of the Mossos, Josep Lluís Trapero, must be dismissed.” Both ERC and Comuns, parties that supported President Illa's investiture, are now demanding Trapero's removal. Trapero was a prominent appointment championed by Illa during his election campaign two years ago.
Opposition Pressure and Police Defence
The controversy over the alleged infiltrations escalated on Thursday with a strong, unified response from the opposition in Parliament. Groups including ERC, Comuns, CUP, and Junts demanded transparency, parliamentary appearances, and accountability if the allegations are confirmed. The initial complaint came from the CGT de Catalunya union, which claims two plainclothes officers infiltrated a teachers' assembly of the Consorci d’Educació de Barcelona and Barcelonès on Wednesday. According to the union, several attendees recognised the alleged Mossos, who had previously participated in demonstrations in uniform. When questioned, they reportedly provided a professional identity that was later disproved, leading them to leave the meeting.
The Mossos d'Esquadra have defended their actions, stating they work to guarantee the right to assembly and protest “always adhering to current legislation.” Both the General Directorate of Police and the Ministry of Interior have expressed their willingness to provide all necessary explanations to parliamentary groups. On Friday, President Illa publicly supported the police force.
