Simon Wade
THE WAR of words continues in the heart of the Vega Baja as Rojales Town Council claims €70,000 of taxpayers cash is being spent on dealing with complaints from ONE opposition party.
PADER, the Rojales Democratic Party headed by Desiderio Araez, has long been critical of the council’s financial handling of affairs, including a high-profile critique of municipal savings.
The Rojales boundary includes Ciudad Quesada, the popular urbanisation with a high percentage of British expats.
The mayor himself, Antonio Perez, has now highlighted the expense of dealing with what he sees as, ‘Accusations, falsehoods, insinuations and threats [from PADER]’.
He made it clear that transparency is key to the work of a city council but, ‘spite and resentment says a lot about them, as they want to harm me politically and ruin me and my family’.
Perez revealed that Araez and Pader have submitted 15 complaints against the city, some including criminal accusations and some involving the regional anti-fraud agency – all without any ultimate convictions.
In a heated chamber meeting, the mayor stressedsaid: “By luck for this town and its neighbours, the PADER is where it is [in opposition, not in power].”
Opposition Party’s Official Reply
PADER issued a press release of their own this afternoon, September 26, denying that they have personally targeted the Mayor of Rojales.
They state: “PADER has never defamed Antonio Perez and he must prove it, not only insinuate it.
The group focuses on the fact that all complaints have been to the council itself or groups of people within.
After listing ALL complaints previously lodged, PADER question the expense of lawyers instructed by the council, costing some €6,400.
They admit that the mayor has the right, ‘to study the measures he deems appropriate [and] that studying is very good for him’.
The group then issued a warning: “PADER is immune to any kind of pressure and will continue to oppose in a manner it deems appropriate.”
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