The slow investigation that ended with a light reprimand for Núria Riera

PalmThe Catalan government's investigation, which ended with a minor reprimand for island councillor Núria Riera, lasted six months. The procedure was opaque (the government is not providing details for data protection reasons) and only three minor infractions were detected by Riera, who participated in radio debates during her working day. Mallorca Diary, which made the news public, counted up to 25 absences of the Popular Party member during working hours as a civil servant in the public administration. MÁS por Mallorca denounced this Wednesday, through MP Ferran Rosa, that the Executive has not provided information on Riera's signings between February, when the case broke, and the present. Rosa considered the lack of response—MÁS registered a question on the matter—an exercise in "obscurantism" and asked the Board for protection to access the data.

According to information from the Government, a confidential information procedure was opened on February 18th regarding Riera, after learning that the PP spokesperson in the Consell de Mallorca had set aside her duties as a civil servant in the Administration on 25 occasions to participate in party activities. However, the case against Riera was not formalized until July 25th, five months after the procedure began. Shortly before, there was a reshuffle within the Government, and Catalina Cabrer assumed the Ministry of Labor and Public Service portfolio. "I took office on July 12th, and on the 25th I was signing the initiation of the procedure," she stated in the plenary session. MÁS por Mallorca has requested Cabrer appear before Parliament to provide details.

According to sources from the Ministry, the procedure was conducted by civil servants who have worked with "absolute independence." "The affected party provided documentation justifying some of the absences due to her representative duties," these sources point out. Of the 25 absences detected, the investigating judge only identified three potential minor infractions. Furthermore, two of these had already expired before the case was opened for a single minor infraction. The Government has not clarified when the statute of limitations expired. The disciplinary reprimand ultimately imposed is the mildest.

Riera earns €127,211 per year in public funds, including her salary as head of department for the Catalan government, with an annual salary of €76,889, and the €50,322 per year she earns as spokesperson for the People's Party (PP) for the island institution, as reported by Laura López. Thus, Riera would average 14 hours of work per day, with a 100% dedication to her position in the Catalan government, and more than 75% of the workday for the Consell. "I'm the same as other spokespersons," explained the PP spokesperson in a speech at the Consell plenary session. "Right now, there are people in this room who are also working 75% part-time," she said.