Spanish government challenges call for 500 new Catalan police officers

The Spanish Tax Ministry has filed a preliminary injunction against the plan to hire 500 new Catalan police officers (Mossos d’Esquadra), according to sources from the Catalan Ministry of Interior Affairs. Months ago, the Catalan Government announced that 500 new vacancies would be offered for the Catalan police force, and last week the Catalan Interior Minister, Jordi Jané, confirmed that the addition would take place this June. Spain’s injunction states that, according to the budget law and the approved replacement rate, only 50 new positions can be offered, and not 500.

The Government’s legal services studied the preliminary injunction and Interior Affairs explains that they are not worried since they believe they have the right to proceed with this addition as planned. The same sources affirm that the 500 new vacancies are necessary and that they consider them a priority for Catalonia’s security.