Two former Xixona officials confront questions amid Azud case proceedings
Xixona’s political scene is under new scrutiny as records from the Azud investigation reveal ongoing tensions around election financing. The inquiry notes that in 2007 the Xixona Popular Party reported a campaign expenditure of 96,960 euros to reaffirm the mayoral position. In contrast, Rosa Verdú’s testimony—as a long-serving secretary to a councillor—indicated that the party’s bank account rarely exceeded 6,000 to 7,000 euros. The secretary served in that role for nine years and was called as a witness in the Azud case as investigators examined the origins of campaign funds and accounting practices. The Civil Guard Central Operations Unit, or UCO, compiled and integrated these statements into the broader Azud file last March, enriching the documentary record with witness and investigator statements. The testimony and documents are part of a growing body of evidence in the case. These elements have emerged as authorities evaluate the mechanics of campaign spending within the local party structure.
Two former Xixona PP officials and a veteran PSPV member initiate a broader review
Xixona’s mayoral secretary corroborated that the party’s funds were handled by a trusted person within the PP network. The testimony underscored that the local PP could not have covered the full 96,960 euros for the 2007 campaign, noting that the current account balance in the Xixona PP typically hovered around a few thousand euros. A figure of roughly 7,000 euros was cited as a higher end of the usual balance. The interplay between office duties and campaign finances was central to the questions raised by investigators, who sought clarity on how campaign expenses were authorized and paid.
February developments point to a decision not to disclose sensitive financial details related to a major project
Verdú, who faced investigation in the Azud case, asserted her right not to disclose certain information when summoned to the 13th Court of Inquiry in 2007. Her statements reflected a broader aim to confirm the mayoral tenure she had held since 1999. During the 2007 election year, she indicated that the mayor would manage campaign expenses without undue concern for the secretary, suggesting a delegation of responsibility that left some costs outside routine accounting records. The campaign for Xixona’s PP in 2007 was organized by Engloba, a firm involved in promoting party events. Investigators also connected payments to a businessman named Jaime Febrer, who is among those being examined in the Azud case. The surrounding narrative highlights how contractors and political actors interacted in funding the campaign, raising questions about disclosure and oversight.
Xixona’s political landscape under change with multiple projects linked to former municipal leadership
Records indicate that prior to 2007 the Party’s own members often ran campaigns directly. That year, there was a shift, with campaign work increasingly conducted through an advertising firm based in Valencia, suggested by the mayor’s secretary as part of the evidence gathered by investigators. The move to engage professional advertising services represented a notable transition in how local campaigns were executed and financed, drawing attention to the roles of third-party vendors in municipal political activity. This evolution forms part of the broader context in which the Azud investigation operates, offering insights into the contracting and coordination practices surrounding election campaigns.
Revealed connections to land purchases and the broader Azud II conspiracy
The witness who emerged as a key figure in uncovering aspects of the Azud II plot had previously been scrutinized in relation to land acquisitions in Xixona. In this later phase of the inquiry, the witness did not recall any payments from Xixona’s PP accounts to Engloba for the 96,960 euros spent on the 2007 campaign. The witness stated that any extraordinary payments would have required the mayor’s authorization and two signatures, emphasizing the formal controls that were expected to govern such transactions. This testimony adds another layer to investigators’ efforts to map the decision-making pathways behind campaign expenditures and related contracts, as the Azud case continues to unfold with new disclosures and corroborating statements.