Orihuela PP Candidate Vegara Faces Open Tax Case Ahead of May Elections

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obvious reason

José Vegara, the Partido Popular candidate for mayor of Orihuela in the 28 May elections, faces an open case in Orihuela courts. The case concerns two tax offenses and has drawn indictments from both the Prosecutor’s Office and the Treasury. A hearing was scheduled, with potential penalties including seven years in prison and a fine exceeding five million euros. Despite these developments, Vegara appeared this Friday in Orihuela alongside Carlos Mazón, the regional president of the PPCV and Generalitat Valenciana candidate, as well as Congress spokesperson Cuca Gamarra. Vegara acknowledged the existence of an older judicial process but claimed it had been filed years ago and remained closed.

During the appearance, Mazón publicly supported Vegara. A spokesperson for the party did not comment on the matter, and a photo did not show this aide. The episode adds to political history in Orihuela, a municipality whose last mayor from the PP was Emilio Bascuñana. He left office only after partners from Ciudadanos and the PSOE pushed through a motion of reprimand while an investigation into possible salary payments from a consultant in the Health sector was underway.

Vegara told reporters that he faces a double charge for fraud related to corporate tax and VAT connected to the ITV vehicle inspection network in the Vega Baja region, according to information reported by Elplural.com. The report identified an open case and verified the existence of the charges.

At the end of the event, PP actions with Mazón, Gamarra, and Vegara continued. Tony Seville

In later remarks, Vegara spoke with journalists about the political campaign and pre-election activities. Gamarra visited several groups, including Elda, to support mayoral candidates, and she rejected any insinuations about online information. The publication INFORMAcIÓN questioned why the case remains open if it had supposedly been archived years earlier. The Orihuela court recently communicated developments related to the charges, enabling Vegara to prepare a potential acquittal and prepare his defense before any prosecution decision. The possibility of an oral trial raises questions about the candidate’s ability to continue running, though party leadership suggested the issue is administrative rather than a matter of public office.

The case is tied to proceedings that began in the late 2000s and into the following years. The facts date back to 2007 and the legal process extended over time after a tax investigation. A Treasury inspector, who supported the investigation, has since passed away. Throughout the investigation, questions about procedural flaws and the interpretation of the facts have persisted, contributing to delays in the historical docket of Orihuela.

Observers note that the court workload in Orihuela has historically slowed many cases, occasionally leaving proceedings dormant for years. PP sources contacted by this outlet indicated they were unaware of an open procedure against Vegara yesterday and believed the issue to be archived rather than active.

Mazón and Vegara deny an open legal case against the PP candidate in the presence of journalists. Tony Seville

The PP candidate also recalled remarks from 2011 at a well known restaurant where party members were waiting. Vegara asserted that he had not attended to company matters for a long time due to health reasons. Regarding the prospect of an oral trial, Mazón stated that the accusation does not relate to corruption or the conduct of public duties. He described the matter as an administrative issue, in the private sphere, and more than a decade old.

four years in prison

According to Elplural.com, Vegara would face charges of corporate tax fraud and a fines exceeding 600,000 euros, along with an additional three years for VAT fraud.

Mazón: “Sufficient explanations”

Mazón later commented that Vegara’s statements were sufficient and noted expectations about remarks from regional president Ximo Puig related to Benferri, Benejúzar, and the mayor of Los Montesinos. He added that the current discussions concern an administrative matter that predates recent public service duties. Puig reportedly visited Torrevieja to introduce several Vega Baja mayors, while Mazón highlighted that a mayor from Benferri faced a prior conviction and that two mayors from Montesinos and Benejúzar had faced legal proceedings. The emphasis remained that the case is not a matter of ongoing corruption or an abuse of public office, but a historical administrative issue.

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