Update on Vicent Barrera’s Corporate Roles and Compliance Actions
Vicente Barrera, who serves as the first vice-president of the Generalitat and as Minister of Culture and Sports, stepped away from the boards of seven family companies he had been directing. The Generalitat’s portal confirms that Barrera left all seven directorships on September 18, 2023, one day after surpassing the deadline for noncompliances.
Earlier reporting noted that, shortly after taking office, Barrera held seats on seven family firms. This arrangement conflicted with his duties as a member of the regional executive. The specific companies listed included Vicente Barrera Simo SL, Edificacións Formabil, Basiespai, Clariflor, Naves Industriales Viatora, Borja Barrera Simo, and Imporpesca Valencia, along with Vitivinicola SA where he also served as a director.
The Generalitat’s records show Barrera resigning from all of these positions on September 18, a day after the threshold for noncompliance was exceeded. Under the governing law for Consell members, individuals have two months to file a declaration of activities and assets, and the Conflict of Interest Office is responsible for ruling on such matters.
Barrera’s case aligns with similar considerations for other members of the Consell. In the case of Carlos Mazón, a resignation by a board member occurred on September 18, after a person had taken up council duties on July 19. The rule in question prohibits holding any other public duty that may conflict with the office, with exceptions such as the steward of the Courts; it also restricts pursuing external professional or commercial activities.
During his first appearance before the Corts, Barrera presented a file indicating that his declaration of activities and assets had already been submitted to the Generalitat. He also stated that his situation had been regularized, a status that is presently reflected in the official dossier of the Generalitat’s top official. Nevertheless, the resolution related to compliances in the Conflict of Interest Control Register has not yet been published publicly.
The situation mirrors the developments around the Minister of National Education, José Antonio Rovira. According to a local newspaper, Rovira ceased managing ROJO INVER SL, a fund linked to Compromís and reported to Antifraude in early September. Ministry sources note that the board of directors approved the change on that same day, but delays in notary procedures have prevented the update from appearing in the registry.