Junts backs reform despite party resistance

Junts per Catalunya has confirmed it will not block the Professional Public Directorate Law in the Catalan Parliament, clearing a key hurdle for a reform aimed at ending politically motivated senior appointments in the Generalitat. The decision, announced Thursday 29 October 2026, comes as the deadline for filing motions to reject the entire bill expires on Friday 30 October. While Junts will reject return amendments from the Partit Popular de Catalunya (PPC) and Esquerra Republicana (ERC), it will support allowing the bill to proceed to debate. The party, led by Mònica Sales, wants to negotiate changes rather than veto the legislation outright.

Merit-based selection for 700 top roles

The bill, introduced by President Salvador Illa and developed by Minister of the Presidency Albert Dalmau, targets over 700 senior positions in the Generalitat, including general and deputy directors. Under the proposed law, these roles would be filled through merit-based selection processes based on objective criteria of competence, capacity, and suitability. The reform does not cover secretaries, who would remain political appointees. The legislation aims to improve public service delivery and reduce patronage by making it harder to dismiss officials for political reasons.

We are not asking for the text to be approved as it is now, because we have already said it is improvable, but rather that it be debated without further delay and that the necessary changes be made.

The Forum of Entities for the Reform of the Administration (FERA), backed by 300 organisations including the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, economists’ and engineers’ professional colleges, and CECOT, has urged parties to allow the bill to advance. FERA warns that failing to act would waste a "unique opportunity" for administrative modernisation.

Junts seeks shorter contract terms

Although supportive in principle, Junts has called for modifications. The party wants to shorten the proposed seven-year contracts, extendable to 14, arguing for terms longer than four years but not exceeding a single legislative cycle. They also propose extending merit-based principles to local councils and strengthening the role of the School of Public Administration of Catalonia in selection processes. The PPC and ERC remain opposed. The PPC argues it is unacceptable to prevent a new government from replacing outgoing political leaders, while ERC is expected to confirm its rejection on Friday.

Vote expected in December

Despite opposition motions, the bill is expected to survive the initial vote. The most likely scenario, according to political sources, is that all motions to reject will be defeated in a plenary session anticipated in December. The PSC-led government cannot rely on support from its usual partners ERC and Comuns, who are also negotiating the separate Public Employment Law. The Generalitat launched its administration reform strategy in July 2026, with the Professional Public Directorate Law as a cornerstone. The reform aims to professionalise management and improve accountability through performance reviews and management agreements.

Sources: Crónica Global, Ara, barcelonapress.com.