Almost two decades ago, in 2007, someone invited the author to enter local politics in Orihuela, despite his limited knowledge of municipal politics. This experience, described as passionate, has confirmed that the decision to participate was the right one.
This week, the Orihuela City Council's Plenary debated a proposal to review the waste collection and treatment service contract, awarded in 2008 by the council, then governed by the PP. The decision comes after the Provincial Court of Alicante, on January 8, ruled on the Orihuela branch of the Brugal case, declaring that the bidding and awarding procedure was rigged. The sentence indicates that the contract was awarded to a businessman friend of the PP, who obtained prior information from PP officials.
The author recalls that the motivation for entering politics was precisely to help clear the city's name. He mentions previous cases, such as that of former PP mayor Luis Fernando Cartagena, accused of misappropriating funds from nuns, or Ángel Fenoll's allusions since 2006 about recordings to control the bidding for street cleaning services.
The review of the contract, described in the Plenary as a "technical patch," is a legal solution in light of the judicial evidence. This step represents a challenge for the PP, which continues to govern the city. The article reflects on Orihuela's historical complacency with local politicians and the lack of accountability demanded from the political organization that enabled these events.
The author expresses satisfaction for having become involved in local politics, especially recalling his role as popular prosecutor's lawyer during the investigation phase of the Brugal case. However, he also expresses frustration at the "indolent blindness" of those who maintain trust in those who now try to fix a situation previously described as a lie with a simple "technical patch."
