Greuges Ombudsman, Angel Moon, has intensified scrutiny of transparency within municipal councils in Benidorm and Sant Joan d’Alacant. The regional ombudsman condemned restricting access to government documents by the opposition in the new mandate following last year’s elections, when the Citizens Party (PP) remained in power in both councils. Mayors Toni Pérez and Santiago Román lead these councils, and their defense rests on the work of the Secretariat and the requirements of the Data Protection Law to protect personal data while maintaining public accountability.
The Ombudsman calls for ethical public service that strengthens administration and accountability.
Both cases were brought to the attention of authorities by the principal opposition group PSPV-PSOE and by municipal spokespersons Cristina Escoda and Esther Donate. In Benidorm, the socialist group told Ángel Luna that access to the City Council’s entry and exit register was blocked, a capability reportedly available to PP councillors. The regional ombudsman closed the file before the government could reassess its position, but he warned during a Municipal Forum that local democracy has shown signs of strain in recent times. This assessment followed a broader pattern observed by the ombudsman in earlier oversight of local governance.
Resolution
In the closing decision, the Benidorm Town Hall was found to have violated the socialist spokesperson’s right to direct access to information stored in the municipality’s computer platform, including entry and exit logs, without requiring special permission. It was noted that opposition councillors should be able to view lists or electronic descriptions of seating arrangements without compromising privacy, as the material in question does not contain personal data. The resolution emphasized accessibility as a fundamental facet of democratic oversight.
Regarding the complaint from Sant Joan, the main contention is that the government team led by Santiago Román was denied essential information needed for effective opposition and oversight. Specifically, access to the decree book, check-in records, and budget data was in question. PSPV submitted multiple requests that went unanswered, which the ombudsman interpreted as a violation of the statutory framework designed to guarantee access to this data.
The Ombudsman diverged from the Sant Joan government’s view, defending a broader principle: all councilors, whether in government or opposition, possess the right to public information. Another rationale presented by Ángel Luna is that domestic regulations should be read in a way that maximizes the protection of fundamental rights. Accordingly, the ombudsman affirmed that councilors have the right to free, electronic access to municipal information as part of proper governance.
Reply
Lourdes Caselles, spokesperson for the Benidorm government and a member of the Town Planning Council, stated that the actions taken were aligned with Secretariat instructions, intended to balance accessibility with the protection of personal data. She argued that broad access could risk exposing sensitive information and that the measures protect individuals while preserving transparency for elected representatives.
The Sant Joan government team echoed this stance, asserting that their approach adheres to Commission criteria and is described as highly careful in safeguarding data subjects. They added that even City Council technicians or advisors linked to the government team do not have access to the files or information in question, underscoring a cautious data governance posture.
Lack of cooperation rose 7.9 percent over the past year, according to the ombudsman’s latest briefing. In addition to reporting restricted access to documents, Greuges Ombudsman Ángel Luna highlighted a perceived decline in the quality of local democracy across the province. He cited data indicating that municipal councils showed a measurable drop in collaborative engagement with the autonomous body, a trend that signals mounting friction between governance bodies and oversight institutions.