The governing team of Girona City Council, promoted by Deputy Mayor Gemma Geis (Junts), established new criteria in October to organize the reception process. This new “processing tree” now requires an administrative resolution (a decree) for any ordinary registration, a step that was not previously carried out. The Councilor for Statistics and Citizen Participation, Queralt Vila (Guanyem), is the one who individually signs these decrees.
“"Our goal is that everyone living in Girona can register in Girona. The register is an administrative record and, as such, does not judge the circumstances in which you live."
The Citizen Defender, lawyer Marta Alsina, has been highly critical of the new framework, pointing out that the register is the “recognition of a fact”. Alsina considers it a setback that people who meet the requirements must wait a maximum of three months to receive approval, causing an administrative “bottleneck”.
“"I think it's fine that they control fraud, but not that a procedure is now added and that this becomes an obstacle."
Social entities such as the Coordinator of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) and Càritas Diocesana de Girona regret that the change “blocks” the social registration of the most vulnerable. Laura Madruga, from Càritas, points out that people with a “fictitious domicile” (such as the La Sopa shelter) see their legal situation “in danger” and are left unprotected.
