Mercedes González Set for Reappointment as Director General of the Civil Guard
The Council of Ministers in Spain is poised to reappoint Mercedes González as the Director General of the Civil Guard, according to reports from Cadena SER. This comes in the wake of Leonardo Marcos, the current director, resigning for personal reasons and opting to return to his role as a technician in the Superior Corps of State Civil Administrators.
Mercedes González has had a dynamic career in politics, first gaining her seat as a deputy in the general elections held on July 23, 2023. She was elected as number ten on the PSOE list led by Pedro Sánchez. During her time in Congress, she held significant positions including the Presidency of the Education Committee and served as the first secretary of an investigative committee focused on the procurement of medical supplies during the COVID pandemic, where she was actively involved in various interrogations.
A member of the Madrid Socialist Party, González has often found herself at odds with key figures in the capital, such as the Mayor José Luis Martínez Almeida and the regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso. In March 2021, she transitioned from the Madrid City Council to become the Government Delegate for the region, a move that intensified her political confrontations with the Popular Party (PP).
Her political journey took another turn in March 2023 when she was appointed as the Director of the Civil Guard by Minister of the Interior Fernando Grande Marlaska, following the resignation of María Gámez amid a corruption scandal involving her husband. However, this role was short-lived as González was included in Sánchez’s parliamentary list for the Congressional elections in July 2023, which made her continuation in the Civil Guard incompatible.
With González’s impending departure from her role in Congress, the entry of Vicente Montávez Aguillaume, General Secretary of the PSOE in Puente de Vallecas, is anticipated. Montávez was part of the PSOE slate in the last European elections but did not secure a seat due to being placed 25th on the list.
González’s reappointment marks a significant development in Spanish politics, especially as it comes amidst ongoing tensions between the socialist party and their rivals. Her experience dealing with the challenges of administration and law enforcement could prove beneficial in navigating Spain's current political landscape.
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