Overview

• Catalan Government approved the draft outline of the professional public management law on July 21 following a meeting between President Illa, Conseller Dalmau and FERA representatives.
• The draft establishes two tiers of public management positions: politically appointed directors general and service directors at the first level and career-civil-servant subdirector generals at the second level.
• Subdirectors will be selected by an external firm that assesses candidates on merit criteria of education, experience and technical skills.
• Roughly 900 appointments will fall under the new regime, receiving fixed tenures and periodic performance evaluations to enhance accountability.
• A one-month public consultation opens immediately, with the bill set to enter the Parlament de Catalunya in the first quarter of 2026 pending cross-party support.