Seu d'Urgell Halts Educational Technician Hiring Amid Anti-Fraud Probe

The Seu d'Urgell town council has suspended a selection process for an educational technician position under investigation by Catalonia's Anti-Fraud Office (OAC), Mayor Joan Barrera confirmed.

The process, aimed at filling a role in the town's Educational Environment Plan, was halted pending the OAC's decision. It follows a complaint alleging a "possible irregular design" in the competition's rules. The OAC, which pursues probes in only 4% of complaints received, requested all related documentation from the council.

The complaint highlights changes to the competition's criteria, originally drafted for the 2020/2021 fiscal year. Initially, those rules accepted candidates with any university degree or diploma, with the merit phase carrying limited weight—making the written exam the decisive factor, according to the filing.

Barrera defended the modifications as purely technical, aimed at ensuring the successful candidate's qualifications matched the role's requirements. He firmly rejected any suggestion of favoritism or political bias, despite the sole admitted candidate holding an organizational role in an opposition political party.

The controversy deepened after the town council's governing board approved the final list of admitted candidates—naming just that one person—on 18 February. This came during a 16 February board meeting, two days after the OAC had already sought documents. Local media had reported the probe, with Barrera's confirmation, and board members discussed it openly.

Junts spokesperson requested full details from the executive team during the meeting and later stated no support for continuing the process. No exam has taken place since the OAC's involvement.

Barrera said the timeline for an OAC resolution remains unclear, despite his follow-up inquiries. The council will keep the process on hold until then.