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Víctor Valverde, the spokesperson for the Popular Party (PP) in Orihuela City Council, has initiated legal proceedings against José Aix, the spokesperson for Ciudadanos, over allegations of corruption related to the “Viales” case.
Valverde has filed a preliminary conciliation request, aiming to pursue a criminal lawsuit for defamation and slander. He demands that Aix retract his statements, issue a public apology, and compensate him with €20,000, which Valverde says will be donated to the Spanish Association Against Cancer.
The dispute centres on accusations made by Aix regarding the road maintenance contract for Orihuela Costa, known as the “Viales” case.
Aix described the contract as “yet another scandal involving the Orihuela PP,” alleging that it exemplifies a longstanding pattern of corrupt practices within the party. He further claimed that certain officials were complicit in these alleged breaches, referring to technical reports that highlighted contract violations by the service provider.
Aix also accused the current administration of concealing irregularities related to the company Zaplana Caselles, suggesting that the file was “buried” to allow the company’s infractions to expire and to cover up misconduct by both the previous and current governments.
In response, Valverde states that these allegations are false and misleading. He maintains that former councillor Ángel Noguera, who was responsible for Infrastructure, refused to approve the company’s invoices despite legal warnings, leading to ongoing criminal proceedings.
Valverde and other PP members, he claims, approved the invoices in accordance with the explicit recommendations and authorisations of municipal technical staff, without exerting any pressure on them.
He further states that they have always strictly followed the recommendations of technical reports, applying deductions to the company’s invoices for minor contractual breaches.
Regarding the contract extension, Valverde argues that it was legally justified, as it was included in the contract’s administrative clauses and had the necessary legal backing.
He also refutes the claim that the PP was “removing defiant officials,” noting that the municipal employee who reported the case to the Public Prosecutor’s Office was only in his position on a one-year service commission before transferring to the Elche City Council.
This legal action has escalated the political dispute into a courtroom battle, highlighting the tensions between the PP and Ciudadanos over the management of the road maintenance contract in Orihuela Costa.
The outcome of this case could have significant implications for the political landscape in the region, as it addresses serious allegations of corruption and the integrity of municipal officials.
WHAT IS THE ‘VIALES’ CASE?
The “Viales” case in Orihuela Costa pertains to an investigation into the management of the public road maintenance contract in the area. The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office is examining potential irregularities in the execution of this contract.
According to the Ciudadanos (Cs) Orihuela municipal group, they have been reporting non-compliance with the contract by the responsible company since 2020. Despite these warnings, the Partido Popular (PP) approved invoices without initiating a non-compliance procedure, a step that was only taken after the PP left the local government in 2022. The complaint filed with the Prosecutor’s Office alleges that the company failed to meet contract conditions, lacking the promised fixed installations and not fulfilling personnel and working hours requirements.
Additionally, Cs accuses the current PP and Vox government of extending the contract to the same company in February 2024, despite documented non-compliance in the municipal file. They also claim that some municipal technicians have reported pressures and reprisals for informing about the irregularities.
In response to these allegations, PP councillor Valverde has announced his intention to file a lawsuit against Ciudadanos for accusing him of corruption in the “Viales” case. He defends the management carried out and considers the accusations unfounded.
This case has sparked intense political debate in Orihuela Costa, with various political parties demanding explanations and calling for investigations to clarify potential irregularities in the management of the public road maintenance service.
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