Trapero's resignation announced Wednesday morning
Josep Lluís Trapero has resigned as director general of the Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia’s regional police force, after two years in the role. His resignation was submitted on Wednesday 09 September 2026, a day when senior police leadership was due to meet at the Department of the Interior for a planned announcement on the force’s restructuring. According to sources cited by Diari ARA, the decision was known within the government as early as Tuesday, though it was not expected by senior officers until Trapero formally submitted his resignation on Wednesday morning.
Loss of confidence from Interior Minister
Trapero’s departure follows a breakdown in relations with Núria Parlon, Catalonia’s Interior Minister. Sources from the department confirmed to El Nacional that Trapero lost Parlon’s confidence during the process of selecting a new chief commissioner, following the retirement of Miquel Esquius. Parlon was set to announce the new chief commissioner at a meeting with the Prefecture and senior Mossos command, and also expected to reveal the name of Trapero’s successor. Reports indicate that Ferran López, a former head of the Mossos who had been sidelined due to poor relations with Trapero, is likely to take over as the new director general.
The Mossos d'Esquadra will undergo deep changes today.
Trapero, a former major in the force and a native of Santa Coloma de Gramenet like Parlon, was appointed by President Salvador Illa as part of a campaign promise to reinstate him to leadership. He had previously led the Mossos during the 2017 independence crisis.
Internal tensions and leadership shake-up
Tensions between Trapero and previous leadership, including former director Eduard Sallent, were widely known. When Trapero returned to power under Parlon, Sallent left the force for the private sector. However, Trapero’s recent relationship with Parlon deteriorated, culminating in his resignation just as the department prepared to unveil a new leadership structure. The announcement coincided with Trapero’s withdrawal from official Diada events, a move seen as a signal of his impending departure. The new chief commissioner is expected to be either Montserrat Estruch, current commissioner of Barcelona, or Sílvia Catà, commissioner of Girona. The official announcement is expected at an event at the Palau de la Generalitat mid-morning. Trapero’s resignation marks a significant shift in the leadership of Catalonia’s police force amid ongoing internal disputes and political scrutiny.
Primary sources: mossos.gencat.cat. Reported by eldiario.es, Diari ARA, russpain.com, Guillem RS, elperiodicodearagon.com, elcorreogallego.es, 20 Minutos Barcelona, La Vanguardia Barcelona, El Nacional, betevé, elmundo.es, naciodigital.cat, elmon.cat, cope.es, en.ara.cat, congresodiario.com.
