Torrevieja’s PSOE municipal group feels Mayor Eduardo Dolón (PP) “should set the example he’s been asking of the other parties” in recent interviews, in which he stated that the Mayor should resign for having trusted corrupt officials. On Tuesday, Socialist councillor David Villanueva stated that, despite showing a photo of Ábalos in the Valencian Parliament, he continues to apply the same norms to himself.
The court has sentenced the former deputy mayor of Torrevieja City Council, who served as the mayor’s right-hand lady for many years, to seven years in prison for wrongdoing. Dolón assigned her to lead some of the most critical departments, including procurement, personnel, parks and gardens, and urban cleaning, where she oversaw the granting of major contracts like the rubbish collection project.
Commissions
The court, in a decision that is not final and can be appealed, states that the former councillor commissioned works worth €232,000 to seven companies without a contract and, according to the ruling, “knowing the illegality of her conduct,” decided which businesses would supply materials or participate in the execution of the employment workshop, negotiated with them, and placed orders verbally and by phone, “consciously and radically” flouting public sector contracting.
There is nothing in the park
In Villanueva’s words, “There is nothing left of these works and the 232,000 euros invested, as Siesta Park was built right on top of it in an attempt to bury a legal proceeding that they ultimately failed to conceal.”
The former councillor resigned in December 2022, “and only,” according to the Socialists, when it was revealed, after weeks of denial, that she would face two different charges. Another case of wrongdoing is underway, with the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office seeking an additional 12 years of disqualification. She had demanded 11 years in this case, but owing to delays, the ruling was lowered to 7.
The same method of progressing
“The surprising thing about this case is that the business owners who testified agreed on one thing: they weren’t surprised that the contract was irregular because they said it was normal practice at Torrevieja City Hall,” said the Socialist councillor, who asserted that the mayor “must provide the relevant explanations for what these witnesses said and strongly condemn the crimes committed by his favourite councillor, for whom, on the contrary, he only had words of gratitude.”
“Mr. Dolón must accept responsibility, apologise, and set the example that he expects others to establish. By the way, the City Council has the option of holding its former councillor accountable for the interest he had to pay with Torrevieja citizens’ money on outstanding bills that went to court. “Do you think they will ask for it?” Councilman Villanueva stated.
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