Mayor of Estepona Jose Maria Garcia Urbnano has faced calls to resign after ‘reimbursing’ the town hall for the salary paid to his female friend despite her allegedly performing zero duties.
Senior figures of the opposition party (PSOE) in Malaga and Estepona have demanded that Juanma Moreno, president of the Junta de Andalucía and leader of the PP in the region, remove Garcia Urbano form his position.
The call comes after the party announced that the Public Prosecutor’s Office (Fiscalia) has requested that Garcia Urbano be placed under investigation for an alleged misuse of public funds.
Prosecutors believe a woman with whom the mayor had a personal relationship was hired by the Ayuntamiento but did not carry out any duties during her contract period. The Fiscalia has also asked that she be investigated.
According to the PSOE, the mayor later reimbursed €5,276.92 to the town hall, the same amount the woman had been paid.
Josele Aguilar, secretary-general of the PSOE in Malaga, claimed the repayment amounts to an implicit acknowledgement of wrongdoing.
‘Instead of explaining what work was carried out, he returned the money his close friend received from the Ayuntamiento,’ Aguilar said.
He urged Juanma Moreno to react with the same speed he applied in another corruption case affecting the PP in Almeria, accusing him of a ‘double standard’ if he fails to act.
Emma Molina, head of the PSOE in Estepona, renewed her call for Garcia Urbano’s resignation and pressed the PP to ‘protect the image of the city.’
She argued that the repayment confirms irregularities in the contract.
Molina claims documentation in the case shows the woman never performed any work, had no assigned office or computer, and lived in Cordoba while on the payroll.
She also underwent cosmetic surgery in Malaga during the contract period without notifying the Ayuntamiento of any medical leave.
The socialist group, which is acting as a popular prosecution in the case, maintains it has submitted all evidence showing the woman received public funds without providing any service.
Municipal sources said the mayor’s legal team has requested that the case be dismissed, arguing that the proceedings stem from false statements concerning the hiring of a temporary confidence post between February and March 2023.
They point out that another complaint previously filed by the same woman – alleging workplace harassment – was definitively dismissed, with the court concluding the accusation was false.
For the defence, this is further proof that Garcia Urbano has been the target of unfounded allegations.
The mayor’s lawyers maintain there was no criminal wrongdoing or irregularity in any hiring decision, and that the reimbursement of €5,276.92 was made to ensure transparency.
They insist that no accusing party has presented evidence against him.
According to the defence, the matter is part of an unfair political and media campaign designed to damage Garcia Urbano’s reputation and remove him from office.
They also highlight that the mayor does not receive a salary for his position and underline that he has eliminated the municipality’s historic debt of more than €300 million, which they say demonstrates responsible management of public finances.
Read more Costa del Sol news at the Spanish Eye.
