Chief of Staff of Illa resigns over Esparreguera case

Eduard Rivas leaves the chief of staff position of president Salvador Illa after the lifting of the secrecy of the case. Xavier Amor will replace him in the Govern.

The judge overseeing the case has lifted the secrecy, prompting the departure of Eduard Rivas from the chief of staff role in the Govern. According to catalunyapress.es, the investigation examines alleged embezzlement of public funds in the contracts of the Fundació per a la Inclusió Laboral (FIL) with the Ayuntamiento de Esparreguera, when Rivas was the mayor of this town in the Baix Llobregat.

The Executive Council on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 is set to formalise the appointment of Xavier Amor, who has been secretary of Local Governments and Relations with Aran, as the new head of the president's cabinet.

The case began in early this year, when agents from the Mossos d'Esquadra visited the town hall to request documentation regarding maintenance and street cleaning services awarded between 2022 and 2024. The proceedings are overseen by the Martorell Court of First Instance.

In February, the investigation led to the arrest of three individuals without public office, suspected of diverting grants and income from the foundation towards personal expenses. Mobile phones were seized during this operation, including Rivas's, who was listed as a trustee of the FIL alongside other regional officials.

In April, Salvador Illa expressed his “full confidence” in his collaborator. The progress of the case and the end of the secrecy have changed that situation.

In a statement, Rivas asserts that his decision aims to preserve the dignity of the institutions and not interfere with the actions of the Govern, reiterating his innocence.

“I have always acted in accordance with the law. I resign following principles of honour and ethics to avoid any shadow of doubt that could harm the work of the Executive,” defended the now former chief of staff, who will continue to work from the ranks of the PSC.

Rivas, a graduate in Political Science, began his public management career in 2007 as a youth councillor in Esparreguera. He later served as an advisor to MEPs Raimon Obiols and Javi López in the European Parliament. In August 2024, he left the mayoralty of his municipality to lead the political strategy of Sant Jaume, the seat of the presidency of the Generalitat.