Presidency

Manuel Villoria Mendieta

He was appointed president of the Independent Authority for Whistleblower Protection in 2025 by Royal Decree 328/2025, of 15 April.

Professor of Political Science at the Rey Juan Carlos University, with six research sexenniums.

Until his appointment he has been Director of the Observatory of Good Governance of the Rey Juan Carlos University.

Doctorate cum laude in Political Science and Sociology and Bachelor of Law from the Complutense University. Graduated in Philology from the University of Barcelona. Diploma in European Communities from the Diplomatic School and Diploma in French Affairs from the University of Toulouse-Le Mirail.

Fulbright Fellow at the University of Indiana (1992-1993), School of Public and Environmental Affairs, there he pursued various courses of the Master and Doctorate in Public Affairs. He also did an Internship in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Washington D.C., 1993. Together, he has published more than 200 academic texts among articles, books and book chapters. His core area of research over the past 25 years has been administrative ethics and corruption analysis.

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How is the person holding the Presidency of the AIPI elected?

The Government and the Congress of Deputies are involved in the appointment of the person holding the Presidency of the AIPI. The Government proposes a candidate or candidate, who must be a person of recognized prestige and professional competence in the field of matters within the competence of the Authority. The proposed person must appear in the corresponding Commission of the Congress of Deputies and obtain the endorsement of the Chamber by an absolute majority. Finally, the appointment is made by means of a Royal Decree approved by the Council of Ministers.

The Presidency, whose term of office is five years, non-renewable, exercises its functions with full independence and total objectivity, is not subject to a mandatory mandate and receives no instruction from any authority. Exercises his/her functions on a full-time basis and fully subject to incompatibilities regime of the senior positions of the General State Administration.

What are its functions?

Law 2/2023, of February 20, attributes to the Presidency of the AIPI broad responsibilities in the governance of the institution and in decision-making. Its functions are regulated in the article 55 of this norm and in Article 12 of the Statute of the Authority.

It has the legal and institutional representation of the Authority and directs and coordinates the activities of all its governing bodies. It approves the circulars and recommendations, as well as the internal rules of procedure and the annual action plan of the Authority.

It gives a ruling in proceedings in punitive matters in the terms provided for in the Title IX of Law 2/2023, elaborates circulars and recommendations establishing the appropriate criteria and practices for the proper functioning of the Authority and resolves requests for access to information, among other functions.

In addition, it concludes contracts and agreements, authorizes expenses and payments, formulates and approves the annual accounts of the entity and exercises the functions of personnel leadership. He also frequently participates in various forums, symposia, meetings and conferences, both national and international. And he appears, at least once a year, in Congress and in the Senate to report and render accounts on the activity of the institution and present the annual report of the AIPI.