Torrevieja’s Socialist Party (PSOE) has called on Mayor Eduardo Dolón to take public responsibility and offer a clear explanation following the conviction of his long-time political ally and former deputy mayor for the crime of prevarication.
The former councillor, once considered the mayor’s right hand, has been sentenced to seven years of disqualification from holding public office after the court found she unlawfully awarded contracts worth €232,000 to seven companies without any legal framework in place. The ruling stated that she knowingly bypassed public procurement rules, verbally arranging services and supplies for a council employment workshop without proper procedures or documentation.
During her time in office, she oversaw key departments such as Public Contracting, Parks and Gardens, and Urban Cleaning. One of the largest contracts under her management was the municipal waste service. According to the court’s findings, her actions were deliberate, systematic, and in violation of public contracting principles.
PSOE councillor David Villanueva condemned the mayor’s silence, pointing out what he sees as hypocrisy. “Just days ago, Mayor Dolón criticised national leaders for trusting corrupt officials, yet he refuses to apply those same standards to his own administration,” Villanueva said. He referenced recent remarks made by the mayor where he called for national resignations over corruption, suggesting Dolón now holds himself to a different standard.
Villanueva also criticised the lack of transparency, noting that the former councillor only resigned in December 2022 after it became public that she was facing two separate legal cases, despite previously denying it. She still awaits a verdict in a second case of alleged prevarication, where the anti-corruption prosecutor is requesting an additional 12-year ban.
In a video posted to social media, Villanueva alleged that no trace of the unauthorised works remains, as the area was later redeveloped—specifically, the construction of the new Parque de la Siesta—implying an attempt to cover up the misconduct.
Even more concerning, he said, was testimony from contractors involved in the case. “They weren’t surprised by the irregularities. In fact, they testified that such procedures were standard at Torrevieja Town Hall,” Villanueva stated.
He concluded by urging the mayor to publicly denounce the offences committed by his former deputy, from whom he continued to speak fondly during the recent election campaign. “Mr Dolón must take responsibility, apologise to the public, and demonstrate the same ethical standards he demands of others,” Villanueva said. He also noted that the Town Hall could pursue civil liability against the former councillor to recover public funds used to cover interest on unpaid invoices that eventually led to court proceedings. “But will they?” he asked.
