The shadow of corruption is again planning over the commons
A new chapter in the credibility crisis of the left parties in Catalonia is being developed with a scandal that involves the City of Altafulla. Recent events could have a significant impact on ERC reputation and the commons, who have suffered a drastic loss of popular support, with 189,315 votes against the last election.
The details of the court survey
According to reports published by Quico Sallés in El Mundo, the City Council would have made an irregular division of contracts for a consulting firm linked to key figures such as Joan Herrera and Joan Ignasi Elena. This investigation, which is now under the control of the Vendrell Court of Instruction number 4, has led the judge to expand the instruction due to new evidence collected after the reopening of the case.
A decline until 2017
The events begin in 2017, when Alternativa Altafulla, associated with the commons, governed the City Council. At that time, Fèlix Alonso was the mayor and also Member of Podemos in Congress. Joan Herrera had led ICV until 2016, while Joan Ignasi Elena came from the PSC, a party he left to join ERC.
ERC actions before irregularities
The current mayor of Altafulla, Jordi Molinera, of ERC, has been proactive in the investigation, denouncing irregularities when in the opposition. Since arriving at the mayor’s office, he has cut off any link with the consultant involved and has offered his collaboration to the police to facilitate the clarification of the facts.
The role of the Anti-Fras
Irregularities were reported to the Anti -Fraud Office in 2022, which opened an investigation into the alleged “ irregularities ” dating to the first suspected contract in 2017. Antifrau identified a possible misuse of minor contracts to award services to the same company, thus violating the established regulations.
The gravity of contracts fractionation
Contracts is a practice that divides a contract into smaller parts to avoid legal controls. This action not only violates the principles of transparency, but also compromises the efficient management of public resources. In this case, the amounts contracted may have exceeded legal limits, which could have serious consequences for those involved.
A broader context of corruption
This scandal adds to other recent cases, such as that of Laura Borràs, convicted of fractioning contracts when she was president of the Institution of Catalan Letters. His ruling includes a sentence of 4 years in prison and 13 disqualification, reflecting the seriousness of corruption in public administration.
Reflections on the future of the left in Catalonia
The current situation raises questions about the capacity of the left parties to regain the trust of the voter. If the investigation reveals more serious events than it has been exposed so far, it could further delve into the crisis facing ERC and the commons, forcing them to rethink their strategies and work to recover their image before the citizenry.
