Last week marked a turning point for Valencian politics, especially for the popular party in the capital. After a period of relative stability, problems are now emanating directly from the city council. The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office has initiated an investigation for alleged prevarication and influence peddling, related to the reallocation of public personnel from the defunct Valencia 2007 Consortium.
This investigation affects the leadership of the Valencia City Council and the presidency of the Port Authority of Valencia, as well as two councilwomen from the municipal executive and four public employees. The alleged "handpicked" reallocation of personnel is the focus of the opened proceedings.
Furthermore, the participation of a councilman in meetings with some of the employees regarding their possible reallocation has added more controversy, especially after the publication of audios by some media outlets. The role of this councilman has been a subject of controversy on several occasions throughout the legislature, due to his almost non-existent public agenda and his private work as a lawyer for unknown companies, which has increased an image of opacity.
“"I will be a very active collaborator with the Prosecutor's Office."
In parallel to these events, a prominent opposition figure has returned to the political forefront as a candidate for the Mayoralty for Compromís. This week, she starred in a public event with left-wing political figures, where she combined pacifist slogans with the fight against 'lawfare', indicating her intention to battle in the race for the Mayoralty.
The sequence of events has generated concern in the Palau de la Generalitat and the Diputación de València, as the capital is often decisive in regional election results. Although the situation is not considered serious, the combination of a judicial investigation and the reactivation of the main political rival has created an atmosphere of apprehension.
