The Interior Minister has expressed her support for the police director, in a context where parties like ERC had called for his resignation. The official emphasized that the action in question was a strictly “operational” maneuver and not a “political decision”, clarifying that the police director did not personally make this decision.
“"Here, what we probably need to assess, which we will do in the coming hours, is the appropriateness of this measure, the proportionality of these measures, and from there we will make the opportune decisions always from an operational point of view, which is where this decision was made. Confidence in the chief exists, as we already stated, and in the force as well."
These statements were made during the presentation of the new sustainable forest management strategy of the Government, from el Bruc. Despite the criticisms, the minister reiterated confidence in the police director and the police force in general.
The police action by two officers has generated a strong reaction from the opposition, which has called for the dismissal of the police director. However, ERC, in the midst of budget negotiations, has sought to decouple this crisis from public accounts. A party spokesperson indicated that the call for resignation is not a condition for the budgets, but rather they seek recognition of an error and the taking of appropriate decisions.
“"We will not allow the police director to end up jeopardizing the funding of hospitals and schools."
In parallel, the USTEC union, the majority union among teachers, has announced that it is studying filing a lawsuit for violation of fundamental rights before the High Court of Justice of Catalonia. The union denounces that the Government treats mobilized personnel as a “public order threat” and warns about the normalization of infiltration and intimidation practices against teachers within the framework of union activity. They have also reported that they will take the police action before the Catalan Data Protection Authority.
The USTEC union will also formally request from the Interior department access to all reports and communications related to assemblies and educational mobilizations, as they consider these events to be part of sustained police action. Furthermore, they demand the “immediate” resignation of the Interior Minister, whom they accuse of condoning an action incompatible with fundamental rights and respect for union activity.
Sources close to the police have explained that the undercover officers were conducting a risk “assessment” and gathering information in the face of a labor conflict. This type of action is common in demonstrations and protests to collect information and prevent future scenarios, although entering an assembly is not as frequent a dynamic, though not considered exceptional.
