Female firefighter candidate accused of fraud in Spain

Female firefighter: fraud or right?

An applicant to become a firefighter in Bizkaia, after changing his registered sens under the Trans Law, is competing in the women's quota of a public recruitment process, generating accusations of fraud among other candidates.

The recent call for 39 firefighter-driver positions in **Bizkaia** has sparked a storm. Of those positions, **four** were reserved for women, a measure aimed at balancing female presence in fire prevention and suppression services, as required by Law 12/2023. The crux of the matter is a **46-year-old** applicant, married with children, who has changed his registered sens. Now, after passing most of the tests, including the physical ones, he ranks among the top positions in the women's ranking, which has led other candidates to demand an investigation into possible fraud.

## The context of quotas and the Trans Law

The reservation of positions for women in the Bizkaia firefighters' recruitment process was not initially welcomed by everyone. Many male applicants felt these quotas reduced their chances of obtaining a public job. The controversy exploded when it became public that one of the applicants competing for one of these reserved positions was a temporary firefighter in **Gipuzkoa**, known in the sector for having taken part in other selection processes as a man without securing a position. According to accusations from other candidates, this gender change would be a strategy to exploit the rules and join the fire brigade. The 2023 Trans Law, which allows a change of registered sens without medical reports or treatment, is the legal framework under which this change was made.

## Signs of fraud, according to the candidates

The applicants reporting the case argue that there are "reasonable and substantiated indications" of fraud, as contemplated in section fifteen of the call's rules. This provision allows the exclusion of candidates for "fraudulent conduct" or behavior creating "unfair competition." Among the arguments put forward, they point out that the registry change came after failing other recruitment processes while competing as a man. They also note that the applicant has not used the women's changing rooms in his temporary position in Gipuzkoa, and that his opposition to women's quotas is well known among his colleagues. They stress that there have been no changes in his personal life or gender expression, citing as an example his participation in physical tests alongside the group of men.

## The registry change process

The approval of the Trans Law in 2023 has made changing registered sens easier. The process, as described, only requires two visits to the Civil Registry. In the first, the change is requested and explanations are given about its legal implications. Afterwards, the applicant must return within three months to confirm the request. The law does not require medical or psychological reports, nor hormonal treatments or prior surgeries to formalize the change. This procedure has been criticized by some feminist organizations, which believe it could be open to fraudulent use.


**4** positions reserved for women in the Bizkaia recruitment process.
Law **12/2023** to promote gender balance in emergency services.
A **46-year-old** applicant is competing in the women's quota.
The **2023** Trans Law allows a change of registered sens without medical reports.
**Gipuzkoa** is where the applicant works as a temporary firefighter.