Reactions in PSPV-PSOE
In Madrid, a spokesperson for the People’s Party faced questions from INFORMACIÓN at the Genoa headquarters about the status of Pepe Vegara as a candidate in Orihuela. Officials from both the Prosecutor’s Office and the Prosecutor’s Office for Valencia coastal region indicated they would maintain Vegara’s candidacy while pursuing three tax offenses that could carry a total prison sentence of up to seven years. The exchange underscored the delicate balance between campaign strategy and ongoing legal proceedings, with party representatives emphasizing they would not reveal their private positions or judgments during the inquiry. They pressed for the same procedural outcome, insisting that the opening of oral proceedings should proceed without introducing new political calculations.
Carlos Mazón faced similar inquiries during a public appearance in Ibi, echoing the stance he had given in Orihuela the previous Friday. He urged caution, noting that Vegara had provided the necessary clarifications. He contrasted this with remarks by Ximo Puig and suggested that the issue spans more than one mayor facing investigations or prosecutions in the Vega Baja region. Mazón argued that the matter had been a private concern for years and that the Prosecutor’s Office had unexpectedly reopened it just weeks before the elections, warranting a cautious approach going forward. [Source: party statements and public briefings]
Reactions in PSPV-PSOE
Vega Baja’s PSPV-PSOE regional secretary, Joaquín Hernández, criticized the People’s Party candidacy in Orihuela under José Vegara, who faces serious criminal allegations. The prosecutor has requested up to seven years in prison in connection with the charges. According to PSOE, Vegara is accused of falsifying a commercial document and of two VAT and Corporate Tax fraud counts against the Public Treasury. [Attribution: PSOE press notes]
“The People’s Party candidate faced oral accusations about a year ago for falsifying a commercial document along with two tax fraud counts against the Public Treasury,” the PSOE statement continued. The party framed Vegara’s candidacy as symptomatic of broader political conduct that deserves scrutiny and public debate.
Golden opportunity
Hernández argued that the People’s Party is missing a golden opportunity to cleanse politics. Presenting Vegara, he asserted, signals alignment with figures associated with past controversies, and he described the nomination as an insult to Orihuela’s residents and a sign of the kind of politics some see as corrupt and mismanaged. The remark tied Vegara’s candidacy to a broader critique of the party’s leadership and its handling of corruption cases. The commentator noted that when corruption issues surface, the PP has tended to deflect attention, yet this instance marks a more direct confrontation by involving a figure who is nearing judicial scrutiny. [Commentary on local political culture]
Another layer of the discussion suggested that the situation was less about a single candidate and more about the party’s long-term approach to accountability. The political debate turned on whether an abrupt change might have offered a path to reform or whether it would simply redefine the party’s public image ahead of the elections. The tension highlighted how anti-corruption sentiment can shape campaign choices and public trust in municipal governance.
Another candidate
The party leadership, through its Secretary-General, suggested that Mazón could have opted to nominate a different candidate to safeguard Orihuela’s interests. The choice to proceed with Vegara was depicted as a misstep, one that could undermine both the party’s credibility and the confidence of its own members. The discussion extended to several mayors who have faced legal scrutiny, with the broader narrative suggesting that years of governance in the Vega Baja region have been haunted by allegations of corruption and fiscal mismanagement. The ongoing legal processes involve individuals who may face courtroom actions after long periods of public service. The latest developments leave Orihuela and its citizens watching closely to see how these cases unfold and what it means for local leadership. [Cited statements from regional leadership]