A heated political conflict has erupted in the Spanish municipality of San Fulgencio following a failed no-confidence vote, pitting the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party) against the town’s Popular Party (PP) mayor, José María Ballester. The Socialists are accusing Ballester of “abuse of power” and “anti-democratic drift,” alleging he is actively impeding the opposition’s oversight work.
The confrontation escalated just three months after a second attempt to unseat Mayor Ballester via a no-confidence motion was blocked. The PSOE is now publicly denouncing the mayor’s “authoritarian tendency,” asserting that he is engaged in a “continuous abuse of power” that “weakens democratic participation” within the City Council.
Allegations of Undermining Democracy
The Socialist party claims a pattern of “very worrying events” has emerged during the current term. These include denying opposition councilors access to information, making decisions crucial to the municipality without dialogue, and the “partisan use” of public resources.
According to the PSOE, the situation worsened after the two no-confidence attempts—in June and July—were thwarted by the PP. The Socialists argue that the PP’s justification for blocking the motions was “illegal” and “contrary to the democratic will of the majority of the plenary.”
José Sampere, the Socialist spokesperson, stated that the mayor is “weakening democratic participation in our city council” by “impeding the normal conduct of plenary sessions, ignoring our proposals, and limiting residents’ right to information.” Sampere reminded Ballester that “he governs in a minority and that institutional respect is not an option, it’s an obligation.”
Opposition Walks Out of Tense Plenary Session
The latest flashpoint occurred on October 16, when the entire opposition collectively abandoned the plenary hall in protest of the mayor’s “bossy ways and abuse of power.”
The walkout was triggered by an exchange between Socialist Francisco Molera and Mayor Ballester. After Molera challenged the mayor over alleged invoice splitting, Ballester repeatedly interrupted and cut him off. Molera responded by leaving the session, quickly followed by the remaining opposition councilors. Councilor Ana María Villena also departed after her request to speak was denied.
Sampere condemned the atmosphere, saying, “Plenary sessions have become a stifling environment, where command and control are the norm.”
Demands for Rectification and Ongoing Conflict
The PSOE has also demanded that the mayor issue a public rectification for statements they deem “false and malicious” about a local company. They accuse Ballester of using “lies as a tool to hide his lack of management and transparency.”
The Socialists are resolute, insisting they will continue to “monitor the actions of the local government and defend citizens’ rights,” while accusing the PP of “trying to divert attention with unfounded accusations.” Sampere concluded that “San Fulgencio deserves a government that listens, respects, and works for the common good, not one that imposes and manipulates.”
The political struggle dates back to the failed no-confidence attempt last summer, when the PP closed the plenary session in a minute, arguing that the law bars more than one motion per term—an interpretation the PSOE has already challenged in court on grounds of alleged malfeasance.
