By David Eade – Costa del Sol News
Whilst the arrest of Ronda’s former mayor Antonio Marín with three of his fellow PSOE councillors was all about town planning corruption there is now a major political fallout. Indeed the socialist activists in the town of the Tajo have demanded the resignation of Málaga province’s two PSOE chiefs. Not the news the party needs in the run up to the general election.
For Antonio Marín his political career is over whether found innocent or guilty. He had been elected Partido Andalucista mayor but then after being in coalition with the Partido Popular broke the pact, signed a new one with PSOE, abandoned his party and led his PA councillors in to the socialist ranks. He headed the PSOE list at the last election.
However although PSOE secured the most votes a coalition was formed between the PP and PA to keep Marín from power. Also there was anger in the PSOE ranks as the PA newcomers had bumped many long term socialist councillors off the list. Marín has now been suspended by PSOE and the PP, PA and Izquierda Unida, who have brought many court cases against him, would not touch him with the political barge pole.
All this has led to 52 of the PSOE activists in Ronda to demand the immediate resignation of the provincial secretary Miguel Ángel Heredia and the secretary of the party’s organisation, Francisco Conejo. The letter was signed by six former PSOE councillors including Briton Charlotte Wilmot and the current PSOE MP Ana Fuentes. They are furious the pair did not listen to their unease over Marín and his fellow councillors acceptance into the party and point out that had they done so these sad moments for Ronda could have been avoided.
Back at Operación Acinipo itself former mayor Marín, who was arrested last Tuesday along with fellow PSOE councillors Cañestro, Lara and Martín plus two advisors to Eroski, was released by the court on 150,000 euros bail two days later. Martín has to find 80,000 euros and Lara 50,000 in surety. The four councillors have all resigned their seats on the council and been suspended by PSOE.
The wide ranging charge sheet includes obstructing justice, bribery, misappropriating funds, money laundering and trafficking in influences. Acinipo revolves around the development of a site for the proposed Eroski commercial centre but could well yet encompass the controversial Los Merinos golf development and other town planning developments.
CORTES DEMO
Around 200 people demonstrated outside Cortes de la Frontera town hall last Friday demanding the salaries owed to municipal workers be paid. The wages for September are due but they still haven’t been paid for July and August. The cork harvest will generate 1.2 million euros for the town hall’s coffers which can be used to pay workers. muleteers and cork harvesters.
ROAD WORKS
Cuevas del Becerro is carrying out major improvement works to the calle Nueva. The 63,400 euros project is being financed by an agricultural workers employment scheme giving work to three managers plus 25 labourers. The work will start at the beginning of September and continue for four months. It will see the road surface and pavement renewed plus water and sewage piping replaced.
MOVE ON
The Partido Popular president in Málaga province, who also heads the provincial authority, Elías Bendodo, visited Ronda on Saturday backing PP mayor María Paz Fernández in the wake of the arrest of the former socialist mayor Antonio Marín on town planning corruption charges. He offered his unconditional support to Ronda and promised to introduce measures to help it achieve its true tourism potential.
HASHISH BUST
Guardia Civil in Cortes de la Frontera have carried out a series of raids, one at a person’s home and another two on rural farms. They confiscated 24 marihuana plants of a very large size. Two locals aged 19 and 34 years were arrested. In another operation 225 medium sized plants being dried in a house in Cuevas Bajas resulted in two arrests.
NO MOVIES
Ronda has cancelled this year’s political film festival due to lack of funds. The festival, on a theme unique in Europe, was the brainchild of former mayor Antonio Marín. The first festival honoured British director Ken Loach but the town hall says none of the prize monies have yet been paid. Oliver Stone and Julian Assange were due to take part this year.
TWO BLAZES
A fire broke out on Montemayor in Benahavís on Saturday covering 30 hectares and because of the strong winds took six hours to bring under control. The presence of irrigation lakes in the area made the fire fighters task easier. On the same day another blaze in Cortes de la Frontera was quickly contained as fire crews have been assigned to the area.
BABY CARE
The Serranía de Ronda health authority has carried out improvements in the premature birth unit at the hospital covering the region. The Ronda hospital has seen a 15,000 euros investment which has been spent linking the specialist feeding unit with that housing the incubators. It guarantees a more intimate and comfortable space for the babies, mothers and families and also ensures greater security.
RONDA GOURMETS
The Gourmet Food and Wine fair was held in Paris at the end of September. Two Rondeños took part on the stand of Casa Pedro Ojeda, a local company dedicated to fine foods. One was Alberto Corbacho who is one of Spain’s master jámon Serrano cutters. Antonio Ojeda presented a wide range of high quality wines and foods from the Serranía de Ronda.
MARIN’S WIFE
The resignation of four PSOE councillors from Ronda’s council because of corruption charges has left the party in chaos. Four on the PSOE list will now move up but one of those is the wife of the former mayor Antonio Marín, Josefa Valle. It is yet to be determined whether she will take the post as her husband is one of the accused.
