The socialist community group of Callosa d’en Sarrià (Alicante, 7,653 inhabitants) denounces the existence of an alleged patronage network between the ruling Popular Party in the city council and some representatives of the Compromís group from Callos. According to local PSPV sources, “there is an understanding between Compromís and the PP”, a circumstance that allows “members and relatives” of the nationalist formation to submit bills to the City Council and obtain public services “. Mayor Andrés Molina assures that everything is fine. “Anyone who wants to see ghosts should see them,” he says. From the direction of Compromís, they announce that they will investigate the case and take “appropriate measures”, possibly also “the expulsion” of the city councilors involved .
Specifically, the Socialists point to two of the most prominent members of Compromís in the municipality, located in the Marina Baixa region between Altea and Guadalest, known for the production of medlars with Protected Designation of Origin and for the natural environment of the municipality of Fuentes del Algar, a large tourist attraction. For example, the PSPV points out that since December 2019, José Adolfo Puigcerver, brother of Mari Luz Puigcerver, mayoral candidate for Compromís in 2019 and municipal spokesman in the past term, has billed the City Council 97,168.96 euros for awards your company for the Sale and installation of air conditioning. The legal representative of the former Puigcerver brothers’ company, Pedro Barquero, has been appointed to the Mayor’s office as legal counsel and representative for defense and litigation in urban planning matters. Finally, in 2020, his daughter’s partner, Fernando Rogel, who was also a member of the Compromís list in 2019, received the position of concierge at the municipal sports center.
Another councilor named by the Callos Socialists is Marisa Sellés Guardiola, current list leader and municipal spokeswoman for Compromís and number 2 on the 2019 lists. Her brother Fernando is listed as an adviser and adviser in the city council tenders and has billed 61,710 euros since 2019. Another brother, Sergio, received the position of cashier and museum of the Fuentes del Algar in November 2022, whose tickets cost 5 euros and represent 20% of the community income. On June 1, 2023, three days after the elections and before the eventual government agreements were implemented, the mayor’s relative was promoted to coordinator of Algar by decree of the mayor’s office.
Finally, the Socialists from Callos direct their complaints also against the participation of Compromís in the Commonwealth of Social Services of the Marina Baixa, in which Bolulla (PP), Benimantell (PSOE), Polop (PP) and Beniardà (PSOE) are represented. Tàrbena (independent), Benifato (PP), Guadalest (PP), Confrides (PP) and Callosa (PP, although their representative is from Compromís, María Bou, current number 2 of the party). This polity is part of the supra-municipal entities, which are outside the council but are represented by councilors and mayors who determine plenary sessions. The thirteen posts, corresponding to Callosa Town Hall, are divided between Marisa Sellés y Bou (11 posts in total) and the PP (2), although the nationalist party is not part of the government team. In addition, in the same unit, according to the PSPV, the network is a round trip. When Puigcerver was in charge of the Commonwealth during his previous tenure, a court of three, including Sellés and his brother, confirmed Marisa’s lawyer Aitor Boiza in 2018 for the position of municipal legal adviser, representing her in personal disputes. The following year, before the elections, he was replaced in the same position by Maribel Ferrándiz, the current PP councillor.
The same sources point out that disagreements between Compromís and the PSPV, whose leaders agreed to an agreement to favor progressive mayors, began during the only term in which they governed together, the one that emerged from the polls in 2015. The current comarcal secretary of Compromís, Josep Saval, won the mayoralty of Callosa with the Socialist votes, but in the last year of the term “he decided to expel all the PSPV city councilors and govern alone”. In 2019, following the split between the two formations, the nationalist party handed the mayoral post over to the PP by voting for itself in the investiture session, although it could have agreed with an absolute majority of eight aldermen. With no agreement reached, the PP gained leadership with five councilors as the party with the most votes. In 2023 the situation repeated itself. The PP received five councillors, ahead of PSOE (4), Compromís (2) and Valencia Unida (2). Compromís avoided the pact with the Socialists, “citing the necessary presence of the Valencia Unida to govern” and returned to hand over the mayoralty to the PP, which won the most elections, they say. Compromís was not part of the government team in either term.
For Molina, “Things like this happen easily in a city like Callosa, it would be rare in Madrid or Barcelona.” It is claimed that contracting air conditioning systems to Puigcerver is legitimate, “because the company has submitted the most competitive bids and offers good after-sales service “. For the rest, he argues: “I could have moved parts, but everyone’s work is commendable and you will not hire anyone if there is someone who has been working for many years.” he: “If you go to bed with children, you’ll get up wet.”
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