Fabiola García steps down as Minister of Social Policy at her own request

Fabiola García Martínez has ceased her duties as Minister of Social Policy and Equality “at her own request,” according to Decree 109/2026, of October 25, published in the Official Gazette of Galicia (DOG) no. 203 of the same day. The decision was adopted by the president of the Xunta, Alfonso Rueda Valenzuela, who signs the decree and thanks her for the services rendered. The cessation is formalized on page 53618 of the bulletin, within the section for authorities and personnel.

The decree is included in section A) Cessations of section II, under the heading of the Presidency of the Xunta de Galicia, and is issued “in accordance with the provisions of article 16.3 of the Statute of Autonomy of Galicia and article 26.1 of Law 1/1983, of February 22, on the regulatory norms of the Xunta and its Presidency.” It is a provision consisting of a single article, dated in Santiago de Compostela on October 25, 2026, which is limited to formalizing the departure of the head of the department.

Official data of the cessation

• Issuing body: Presidency of the Xunta de Galicia.
• Regulation: Decree 109/2026, of October 25.
• Publication: DOG no. 203, Sunday, October 25, 2026, p. 53618.
• Official reference: CVE-DOG: 3z9blkj4-t2g8-ssk2-mtw0-xcfzgty52uv0.
• Reason: own request of the minister, with express gratitude for the services rendered.
• Signature: Alfonso Rueda Valenzuela, president of the Xunta.

A department with competencies over dependency and equality

The Ministry of Social Policy and Equality is the department responsible for proposing and executing the general guidelines of the Xunta in the field of welfare, which encompass competencies regarding social services, including policies for the care of people with disabilities. Its organic structure derives from Decree 42/2024, of April 14, establishing the organic structure of the Xunta de Galicia, and from Decree 139/2024, of May 20, specific to the ministry.

Sensitive areas depend on this structure, such as the protection and guardianship of minors in situations of risk or abandonment, through the General Directorate of Family, Childhood and Demographic Dynamization, as well as family support policies, reconciliation, prevention of gender violence, and promotion of equality. The general framework is Law 13/2008, of December 3, on social services of Galicia, which configures the Galician system of social services.

Recent activity under her signature

Among the department’s latest actions published in the bulletin under their signature is the Resolution of September 25, 2026 (DOG no. 189, of October 5, 2026), which establishes the bases of the social contract for the reservation and occupation of places in residential care for dependent people with intellectual disabilities for the 2026-2030 period, with procedure code BS632J. The call includes 24 therapeutic residential care places for people with intellectual disabilities and mental illness (dual) in the municipality of Bóveda.

During the same period, the department signed collaboration agreements under the State Pact against Gender-Based Violence for the 2026 financial year, including the following:

• 15,000 euros with the Professional College of Journalists of Galicia, for the training and awareness of media professionals.
• 20,000 euros with the Galician Federation of Artisan Net-makers O Peirao, for the prevention and detection of gender-based violence.
• 25,000 euros with the Secretariado Gitano Foundation, for awareness actions within the Roma community.
• 55,000 euros with the Juan Soñador Foundation, for the Malaikas and Berrando ao mundo projects.
• 210,000 euros with the Congregation of Mercedarian Sisters of Charity, for the maintenance of a shelter in Chantada.

Impact

The cessation leaves without a head a department that manages social services, dependency, family, childhood, and equality, and occurs at a time of full execution of the 2026-2030 social contracts and the programs funded by the State Pact. The decree does not designate a substitute, therefore the coverage of the department must be resolved with a new provision published in the DOG, which operators in the Galician social sector must monitor to know the orientation of welfare policies.

Source: Official Gazette of Galicia, no. 203, of October 25, 2026, section II (Authorities and personnel), p. 53618 (official reference: CVE-DOG: 3z9blkj4-t2g8-ssk2-mtw0-xcfzgty52uv0).