The Socialists say the departure of the official responsible for municipal auditing reflects the internal climate at the council and blame the situation on the mayor’s governing style.
The PSOE in San Fulgencio has denounced what it describes as a new episode of “chaos” at the Town Hall after the municipality was left without a municipal auditor, a key position for the council’s financial and administrative operations.
According to the Socialists, Mayor José María Ballester was recently forced to appoint an A1-level civil servant as acting auditor for just one day in order to process municipal payroll. The party says the situation has caused uncertainty among Town Hall employees and is further evidence that the council is being run through improvisation rather than proper planning.
The PSOE directly blames Ballester for the latest crisis, arguing that it is the result of a governing style marked by pressure, poor organisation and controversial decision-making. The official who had been carrying out the auditor’s duties for several years has now stepped down from those responsibilities and returned to their original post. The Socialists claim this decision reflects the internal atmosphere at the Town Hall.
The party says San Fulgencio is “increasingly adrift” and argues that residents are paying the price for the institutional deadlock. It also accuses the mayor of remaining in office despite statements from the municipal secretary, the Public Prosecutor’s Office and a judge questioning his actions in relation to the blocking of motions of no confidence which, according to the PSOE, had majority support in the council chamber.
The Socialists claim this has left the Town Hall trapped in institutional paralysis and ongoing legal disputes.
PSOE spokesperson at San Fulgencio Town Hall, Pepe Sampere, described the situation as “shameful” and said it was seriously damaging the image of the municipality.
“The mayor is fully aware that his continued presence in office, despite having lost the majority on the council, is causing unprecedented institutional deterioration,” Sampere said. “Meanwhile, the municipality is being neglected while he waits for the courts to order his removal.”
The PSOE has also criticised what it describes as the deteriorating condition of the municipality, citing repeated complaints from residents over cleaning and maintenance, particularly in the La Marina residential area. The party says these problems have even been acknowledged by the mayor during council meetings, but claims no effective action has been taken.
“The mayor does not listen to the justice system, he does not listen to residents, and he does not listen to the council majority,” Sampere added. “He lives in his own world, detached from the reality of a municipality that urgently needs solutions and stable government.”
The Socialists also criticised what they see as the silence and political support of senior figures within the People’s Party, pointing to the PP leadership in the Vega Baja region and the Valencian PP.
The PSOE says the current situation is unsustainable and is calling for an end to what it describes as an “outrage”, the restoration of democratic normality, respect for the rule of law, and effective management focused on residents’ needs.
