Antonio José Royo's bid to reclaim his position as chief of the Lleida police has been denied by the TSJC, affirming María Pilar Callejero's appointment.
The Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC) has ruled against Antonio José Royo’s attempt to regain his position as the head of the National Police in Lleida. This decision comes after Royo was removed from his post due to a 2003 sexual harassment conviction, which resurfaced just days after he was appointed on December 9, 2025.
Royo challenged his dismissal, claiming that the subsequent appointment of María Pilar Callejero as his successor was influenced by media pressure and public outcry. He argued that this decision lacked sufficient justification and unfairly damaged his professional reputation. However, the court found no evidence that these alleged harms were irreparable.
The controversy began when Royo was appointed despite his past conviction, leading to significant backlash from both institutional and social circles. The Interior Ministry justified Royo’s removal by citing concerns over the impact on the police force’s credibility. Following this, Callejero was officially appointed on March 2, 2026, marking a historic moment as she became the first woman to lead the Lleida police.
In response to her appointment, Royo filed an appeal with the TSJC seeking a temporary suspension of Callejero’s role until legal proceedings regarding his dismissal were resolved. He claimed that without such a suspension, he would suffer ongoing professional harm due to reputational damage stemming from both his removal and her appointment.
On June 16, 2026, the TSJC dismissed Royo’s request for suspension. The court stated that any potential damages he cited were primarily linked to his initial dismissal rather than Callejero’s appointment itself. Furthermore, they noted that any economic losses could be rectified if Royo ultimately prevailed in court.
The judges emphasized that determining whether there had been arbitrary action or insufficient motivation behind Callejero’s selection required a thorough examination of facts beyond what could be addressed in preliminary measures. They reiterated that suspending an official’s appointment is an exceptional measure only warranted under specific circumstances—conditions they deemed unmet in this case.
The State Attorney also opposed Royo’s request for suspension, arguing it would unjustly remove an already legitimate appointee from her position. The TSJC concurred with this perspective and concluded that granting Royo’s request would disrupt rather than maintain current conditions.
This ruling not only solidifies Callejero’s role but also highlights ongoing discussions about accountability within law enforcement agencies regarding past misconducts. Historically speaking, cases like these are not uncommon; similar situations have arisen in various countries where law enforcement officials have faced scrutiny over their past actions while serving in high-profile positions.
As it stands now, María Pilar Callejero will continue her duties as chief of police while Royo considers further legal options against both his dismissal and Callejero’s appointment. For those interested in following developments related to this case or seeking updates on local law enforcement leadership changes, regular updates can be found through official government channels or local news outlets covering judicial proceedings.
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