The departure of Soledad Fernández shakes the Tax Agency before testifying about former President Zapatero's jewels in the Senate

The Tax Agency faces a change in its leadership at one of the most delicate moments in recent years for the organization. Its general director, Soledad Fernández Doctor, has requested to leave the position and the Ministry of Finance is already working on her replacement, which will occur in the coming weeks. The department led by Arcadi España denies that there is an internal crisis and defends that the decision had been discussed for months.

The departure became known just after the closure of the Income Tax campaign, which ended this Tuesday, June 30. According to the Treasury, Fernández had requested the change previously and it was agreed to delay any change to avoid disrupting the period of greatest workload for the organization. The Ministry also maintains that the director leaves the main objectives of the 2024-2027 Strategic Plan on track.

The move, however, comes with a lot of political noise around it. The Tax Agency is at the center of several fronts at the same time: the case of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's jewels, the tensions over the singular financing of Catalonia, the discomfort of inspectors and technicians regarding a possible transfer of powers to the Generalitat, and the internal labor conflict over the professional career of the staff.

In addition to Fernández's departure, there are possible replacements for the directors of Collection and Financial and Tax Inspection, who have applied for a competition to fill positions as Finance counselors abroad. The process is not yet resolved, but in the organization it is already taken for granted that the renewal of the leadership may go beyond the general directorate.

The PP calls her to the Senate over Zapatero's jewels

The Popular Party tries to frame the change within the Zapatero case. Sources from the PP in the Senate consulted by 'ElConstitucional.es' speak of "convulsion" in the Tax Agency after its spokesperson, Alicia García, announced that Soledad Fernández will have to appear before the SEPI Investigation Commission next July 13.

The focus of that appearance will be the Treasury's actions regarding the jewels found in the former Prime Minister's office, valued at 1.3 million euros. The judge of the Audiencia Nacional José Luis Calama offered the Tax Agency to appear as a "potential injured party" after finding evidence of a possible crime against the Public Treasury and smuggling.

“Is Hacienda going to take legal action against Zapatero, yes or no?”, these popular sources convey as the question they want to bring to the commission. The PP maintains that the jewels have left the former president and the Government “in a dead end”, and accuse the Executive of trying to buy time to “cover everything up”.

The same sources assure that the appearance will be maintained even if there is a change in the AEAT's management. “They may leave office to avoid having to answer that question, but whatever happens, their appearance is firm,” they point out from the popular group in the Senate.

The change in the AEAT coincides with union protests and the rejection of singular financing

Hacienda is moving in another direction. The Ministry insists that the change is not due to the Zapatero case or a hasty resignation. It places Fernández's departure as a personal and agreed decision, and emphasizes that the change occurs when the central elements of the agency's strategic plan are already considered fulfilled or very advanced.

The official explanation does not close all fronts. The Tax Agency has been experiencing significant labor tension for months. CSIF called a strike during the Income Tax campaign due to the lack of progress in staff reinforcements, teleworking, and professional career. Internal sources also point to the freezing since 2019 of the professional career agreement, signed in 2007, and the wear and tear of a staff hit by retirements.

The territorial discussion also weighs heavily. Plans for singular financing for Catalonia and a possible expansion of the powers of the Catalan Tax Agency have generated rejection among tax inspectors and technicians, who warn of a risk of fragmentation of the common collection system.

Fernández arrived at the general management of the AEAT in June 2022, when she replaced Jesús Gascón, who went on to occupy the Secretary of State for Finance. A State Tax Inspector and a Law graduate from ICADE, she had been special delegate of the Tax Agency in Madrid, president of the Central Economic-Administrative Tribunal, and director of the Tax Management Department.

The change is now in the hands of Hacienda. The chosen person will have to take over a Tax Agency with record collections, political pressure due to judicial cases, internal tension in the staff, and a territorial negotiation that directly affects the heart of the organization.