Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of April 15, 2026, from the General Directorate of Civil Service |
|---|---|
| Official Gazette Publication | April 23, 2026 |
| Entry into force | Not expressly specified |
| Affected parties | Local administration civil servants with national qualification (secretariat and comptroller-treasurer sub-scales) |
| Appointment system | Free appointment |
| Territorial scope | Entire national territory |
| Category | Public Sector |
| Official Gazette Reference | BOE-A-2026-8898 |
Local administration civil servants with national qualification have a new opportunity for job transfer. The General Directorate of Civil Service published, on April 23, 2026, the call for the provision of positions reserved for this group through the free appointment system (reference BOE-A-2026-8898).
Unlike merit-based competition, the free appointment system grants the local entity the ability to discretionarily select among candidates who meet the established requirements. This means that the candidate's profile, their suitability for the position and institutional trust weigh as much or more than the merit scale.
What does this regulation establish?
The resolution publishes a call to fill vacant positions reserved for local administration civil servants with national qualification. These positions must be filled with qualified personnel and cannot be filled with ordinary civil servants.
The key elements of the call are:
- Appointment system: Free appointment. The local entity discretionarily chooses among candidates who meet requirements, without the need to apply a regulated merit scale.
- Sub-scales called: Secretariat and Comptroller-Treasurer.
- Functions of the positions: Public deed and legal advice (secretariat); economic-budgetary control and financial management (comptroller-treasurer).
- Scope: Municipalities and local entities throughout the national territory.
- Application submission: Within the deadlines and forms established in the call text.
| Sub-scale | Main functions |
|---|---|
| Secretariat | Public deed and legal advice to the local corporation |
| Comptroller-Treasurer | Economic-budgetary control and financial management |
Economic and operational impact
For calling local entities, filling these positions is an operational priority. Without an active qualified secretary, comptroller or treasurer, the entity may see its capacity to adopt agreements with full legal guarantees and to execute the budget with legally required controls compromised.
The free appointment system has relevant practical implications compared to merit-based competition:
- The local entity has greater margin of choice, but also greater responsibility in justifying the decision.
- The selected candidate may be dismissed discretionarily at any time, which generates a relationship of greater institutional dependence.
- For the civil servant, accessing a position through free appointment may mean a jump in level or responsibility without the need to accumulate the merit scale that a competition would require.
Who does it affect?
- Local administration civil servants with national qualification from the secretariat sub-scale seeking new position or job improvement.
- Civil servants from the comptroller-treasurer sub-scale interested in positions called in this resolution.
- Local entities (municipalities, provincial councils, island councils and other local corporations) that have called positions in this resolution and must initiate the selection process.
- Human resources managers of local administrations who manage the provision processes for qualified positions.
Practical example
A medium-sized municipality that has had the comptroller position filled on a temporary assignment for months decides to include that position in the free appointment call published on April 23, 2026.
Several civil servants from the comptroller-treasurer sub-scale submit applications within the deadline established in the call. The municipality, since it is a free appointment, may discretionarily assess which of the candidates best fits the profile it needs—for example, experience in municipalities of similar size or knowledge of applicable regional budgetary regulations—and formalize the appointment without the need to apply a regulated merit scale.
The selected civil servant takes office and is subject to the free appointment regime: they may be dismissed at any time by the corporation, although with the effects and guarantees established by local civil service regulations.
What should civil servants and local entities do now?
- Consult the full text of the call in the Official Gazette (reference BOE-A-2026-8898) to identify the specific positions called, their requirements and the deadline for submitting applications.
- Verify compliance with requirements before submitting an application: sub-scale, category and any other specific requirement that appears in the call for each position.
- Prepare supporting documentation of the required requirements and submit the application in the form and deadline established in the call.
- Calling local entities must activate the candidate evaluation process and prepare the justification for the appointment decision, since the free appointment system does not exempt from motivating the administrative act.
- Monitor the procedure: appointments by free appointment are published in the Official Gazette, so it is advisable to monitor the appointment resolutions following this call.
Frequently asked questions
What positions are called through free appointment in this 2026 call?
The call affects positions reserved for local administration civil servants with national qualification, specifically from the secretariat and comptroller-treasurer sub-scales. These civil servants exercise public deed, economic control and financial management functions in local entities throughout the national territory.
What is the difference between free appointment and merit-based competition for nationally qualified civil servants?
In the free appointment system, the local entity discretionarily selects among candidates who meet the requirements, without the need to weigh merits in a regulated manner. In merit-based competition, selection is based on objective assessment of merits accredited by each candidate. This call uses the free appointment system.
How and where should interested civil servants submit their applications?
Interested parties must submit their applications within the deadlines and forms established in the call itself published by the General Directorate of Civil Service on April 23, 2026 (BOE-A-2026-8898). The specific submission procedure is detailed in the full text of the resolution.
Which municipalities or local entities do the called positions correspond to?
The called positions may correspond to different municipalities and local entities throughout the national territory. The call does not restrict the positions to a specific autonomous community. The details of each position are in the complete text of the resolution published in the Official Gazette.
When does this free appointment call enter into force?
The resolution was published on April 23, 2026. The entry into force date is not expressly specified in the available information, so it is advisable to consult the full text of the resolution (BOE-A-2026-8898) for specific details on the effective date and application timeline.
Official source
Resolution of April 15, 2026, from the General Directorate of Civil Service
Published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) on April 23, 2026
Reference: BOE-A-2026-8898
Access the full text
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information contained herein is based on the official publication in the Official State Gazette and applicable regulations on local civil service. For specific guidance on your particular situation, we recommend consulting with a legal professional specializing in public administration law. CambiosLegales is not responsible for any decisions made based on this information.