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Agentes de la Guardia Civil junto a una patrullera marítima en la costa andaluza al amanecer
Patrullera del Servicio Marítimo en la costa andaluza, imagen alusiva a las demandas de medios contra el narcotráfico. · Imagen generada para EPM

Civil Guard: 10 labor and transparency demands ahead of November 29 vote

The Civil Guard association presents 10 demands for the November 29 election: risk profession status, a 35 hours week, pay equalization, more anti-trafficking…

--- The context --- The general election on November 29 comes after eight years of Fernando Grande-Marlaska as interior minister, a period marked by almost constant anger among police and Civil Guard officers over his management. The Ceuta crisis, drug trafficking in the south of the peninsula and cases involving senior figures who have had to testify in court have opened a barrier between the Interior Ministry and officers. --- The facts --- The Unified Association of Civil Guards has sent the parties a document with 10 demands for a possible term under any of them and asks that the proposals be included in election platforms. A central point is recognition as a risk profession, with early retirement through reduction coefficients, as already applies to the Ertzaintza, the Mossos d'Esquadra, the Foral Police and local police forces. The association also calls for a 35 hours working week on an annual average and for completion of the 2018 Pay Equalization Agreement, which allocates 807 million euros to reduce the pay gap with regional police forces. On operations, it seeks a permanent anti-drug-trafficking unit on the Andalusian coast, more resources for the Maritime Service and reinforced staffing, after four Civil Guard officers died in maritime operations between 2024 and 2026. --- The positions --- The association argues that discretionary appointments should be limited to roles of "real trust" and that the rest should be filled through merit-based competitions with public scoring scales. It puts such postings at about 10,600, according to official data from 2022, and calls for limits on temporary assignments. It also proposes an annual report to Congress and links the reform to GRECO recommendations seeking more transparency and objectivity in professional careers. --- What remains unknown --- It is still unknown which parties will include the demands in their platforms or under what legislative timetable they would be applied. There are also no details on progress of the announced barrier to close the Guadalquivir to drug boats, while the Interior Ministry points to a 5.92% increase in officers in the area. --- Unanswered questions --- Which parties will commit in writing to early retirement and the 35 hours week? Will public scoring scales and deadlines be published to reduce discretionary appointments? When will the real state of the Guadalquivir barrier and the promised reinforcements be known? --- EPM analysis --- The debate combines working conditions and institutional oversight. At the same time, the case of director Mercedes González, who testified as a suspect on July 17 for alleged obstruction of justice and malfeasance and denied pressuring the UCO, keeps transparency at the forefront of the campaign. 📌 EPM Take: In EPM's view, the 10 demands place officers' rights and transparency at the center of the debate before November 29. Recognizing the work as a risk profession, moving toward a 35 hours week and completing the 2018 pay agreement are matters of labor fairness, while limiting handpicked appointments and requiring an annual report to Congress would strengthen democratic oversight of an institution that is central to public safety and to citizens' trust in the state and its rules.
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