The three paid councillors at the Town Hall, including Ricardo Garcia of the United Left and Ganar, will go back to their previous jobs while their salaries are suspended, the Mayor of Calasparra has announced.
The salaries and expenses of the councillors, and of the Mayor, José Vélez, have been suspended following a legal ruling in favour of the opposition Partido Popular, which the PSOE is currently appealing.
According to the Mayor this situation will continue until the appeal has been heard. He also cofirmed there would be no third Full Town Council, aimed at correcting the administrative errort which forms the basis of the opposition complaint.
“What hurts most about this decision is that from today we will not be able to serve the citizens of Calasparra in the manner they deserve, given that the hours we can dedicate to public service will be much less,” said the Mayor.
The opposition PP allege they did not receive information concerning salaries and expenses 48 hours before the meeting when they were approved: a time period set in law.
The ruling PSOE held a subsequent meeting in June this year, aimed at correcting the administrative error, but this too was anulled in the latest legal ruling.
For the Mayor “the only thing the opposition is doing is to try and damage me personally and stain the honour of the councillors in the streets of Calasparra.”
