Transparency and access to information: too many words and too little practical commitment

This example suffices to highlight one of the great evils of local and regional governments. ombudsman It has long warned of a course of action that significantly undermines democratic quality and undermines the principles of transparency and access to public information on which it must be based. When asked about this trend, political leaders of the entire color palette, including trustees, cuts, they mouth that we must work for transparency and put all the necessary mechanisms and resources in their hands so that failures do not occur. However, looking at the practice and the reports prepared by the Ombudsman, it is confirmed that all this talk is empty and there is little commitment to actually put into practice what the theory advocates. Legislative armor is not even taken into account.

lots of complaints

In the same week, Municipal Forum Organized by INFORMACIÓN, Luna attacked the lack of transparency shown by city councils and highlighted the numerous complaints it has received from opposition councilors and citizens about transparency in accessing public information. “It is not possible to allow medium and large city councils to ignore the fundamental norms of the functioning of democracy, as is the case in the state of Alicante today,” the Ombudsman said in a powerful speech that left no one indifferent. they heard.

These denunciations of Luna are reflected in black and white in the different reports she prepares periodically, such as the report she submitted to the Valencian Courts, which coincided with 2021, where she had previously explicitly requested the amendment of Article 128 of the 8th Law. /2010, 23 June, Local Regime Valencian CommunityIn order to specifically regulate the direct access of all councilors to documents and information contained in computerized systems for the electronic management of municipal records, excluding data belonging to natural persons, which are protected or withheld.

In its reports and decisions, the Ombudsman argues that new technologies and the digitization of governance should play in their favor to facilitate transparency of institutions, which is not happening now. Luna also noted in her writings: advanced democracies, the role of the opposition must be tedious for those who exercise power, and therefore institutions must remove the “numerous” barriers and barriers they put up. Finally, the Ombudsman insists that the information the opposition needs should be provided to them quickly.

“One of the aspects that worries me the most is that when I report this kind of thing, everybody says what the Ombudsman says is very good, but then nobody cares,” Luna says. “It’s always thought that the rest of the parties are behaving badly, and no one stops to deeply analyze how they are doing at home.” regional ombudsmanBefore sharing a final thought: «The obligation of political leaders is to care about the functioning of their institutions and to prevent them from violating the fundamental rules that govern the conduct of a democratic society».

town halls

What is the response of the municipalities of the most populous municipalities in the province to the repeated complaints of the Ombudsman? starting with the city Alicante, the mayor Luis Barcala (PP) sufficed to say that he agreed that “all public administrations should work to be more transparent”. Miguel Millana (PSPV), spokesperson for the main opposition group, denounced “several shortcomings in Alicante City Council”, which he saw as “a very serious problem that recurs year after year”.

Inside Elche, mayor Carlos González (PSPV), also head of FEMP’s Local Assets Network for Transparency and Citizen Participation, states that he respects but does not share the Ombudsman’s criteria. “In recent years, we’ve made a leap in terms of transparency at the municipal level,” he adds. Opposition leader Pablo Ruz (PP) recalls that the Ombudsman issued “dozens of warnings” “without precaution” that the Elche government team was not transparent.

A little further south Torrevieja, the first mayor, Eduardo Dolón (PP), assures that the Salt City City Council “always cooperates with the Ombudsman and all public institutions that demand information and transparency”. Los Verdes spokesperson Israel Muñoz doesn’t think so: “There’s no way we can’t have access to public files. Torrevieja Town Hall is one of the most opaque in the entire state. What the Ombudsman is revealing is a truth like a temple, we must act differently.

Mayor in hand, Rubén Alfaro (PSPV) confirms that since its formation came to power, “the City Council has significantly improved its index of transparency, cybersecurity and citizen participation”. This is one of the few cases where the opposition agrees. Fran Muñoz (PP) confirms this as follows: “We can put many blames on the government team for lack of management or budget execution, but information is given to us when we ask for it.”

In the case of alcohol, the mayor Toni Francés (PSPV) recalls that “transparency is an obligation of all governments and thanks to digitalisation, information can be provided in real time”. Frances, who is also a socialist spokesperson on the State Council, affirms that there is “little transparency” in the state agency. Quique Ruiz (PP), spokesperson for the opposition in Alcoy, regrets that his group has had to turn to the Ombudsman multiple times for the government team to inform them.

Finally the mayor Benidorm, Toni Pérez (PP) agrees with Luna, stating that “all institutions must comply with the law” and pointing out that “transparency is a key element that needs to be addressed”. Cristina Escoda (PSPV) from the opposition points out that “political representatives and municipal technicians should be responsible for maintaining the independence and guarantee of assets managed by public administrations”.