The mayor of Algeciras (Cádiz), José Ignacio Landaluce, arrived shortly before 10:00 AM at the Court of Violence against Women to testify as an investigated party for an alleged crime against sexual freedom, and regretted not making statements until appearing before the judge, stating that “first things first”.
Landaluce was summoned this Friday after the complaint filed by a woman against the Algeciras mayor on October 12 was admitted for processing. The proceedings for this case began this Thursday with the testimony before the judge of the complainant herself and two councilors, who appeared as witnesses.
Among the councilors called to testify is the former first deputy mayor who, after leaving the government team, has been designated as a candidate for mayor in the no-confidence motion filed against Landaluce. Another councilwoman also appeared, who decided to remain with the mayor and to whom the Popular Party has opened an investigation.
A case that erupted after the complaint of a PP militant
The events, which occurred in July of this year, became publicly known on October 12 with the filing of a complaint, after a first complaint registered in September came to light. The woman who formalized the accusation, a PP militant, held a meeting with the provincial president of the party, Bruno García, to recount what happened.
After learning of the facts, Bruno García gathered the government team of the Algeciras City Council to ask them to request the mayor's resignation or, if not, to leave the municipal government.
Breakup in the municipal government and no-confidence motion
This situation led to 12 of the 15 PP councilors registering a document in which they requested the resignation of José Ignacio Landaluce, while three other councilors positioned themselves against that outcome. Given the mayor's insistence on remaining in office, the 12 councilors left the government team and, together with Vox, filed a no-confidence motion against the mayor.
For their part, the three councilors who have remained with Landaluce have taken on responsibilities in a government team currently made up of four members.
Resignation announced for October 25
After the admission of the complaint and the summons to testify as an investigated party became known, Landaluce announced last Monday 19 that he will leave office next Sunday, October 25. In that announcement, he reiterated that the facts attributed to him, in relation to alleged sexual assaults on two PP militants, are “false”.
“Against a great setup with unjust attacks, against a great setup, I will defend myself before justice, I will fight to show my innocence and I hope that those who have made this whole setup can be held responsible”, the mayor of Algeciras then assured when announcing his resignation.