The approval of the 2025 accounts, representing a 3.35% increase over current figures, marks a management success for Viñuales (PSC). Despite governing in a minority, he secured the support of Junts, En Comú Podem (ECP), and non-attached councilors, totaling 16 votes to pass the most important municipal law. This is the third consecutive time the current Government has approved the budget on time, a feat not achieved since 2001, 2002, and 2003.
Despite the budgetary success, the debt generated by the works on the Mercat Central and the smart parking Jaume I will continue to burden municipal coffers. The City Council will close 2025 with a live debt of 26.2 million euros stemming from these two infrastructures. While the renovation of the Mercat Central (inaugurated in 2017) has revitalized the area, the Jaume I car park was a construction disaster that led to a criminal complaint for embezzlement, which was dismissed in 2023.
“"This was a highly anticipated ruling. Jaume I is a great horror for the city. Now, justice is served to close a major black spot in our history."
The commercial legal route, however, has been successful. The Court of First Instance 15 of Madrid ruled in favor of the Empresa Municipal de Transports (EMT) in the lawsuit against CA Metropolitan, the financial company for the car park machinery. Judge Vilma del Castillo ruled that the financial company must return to the consistory the totality of the renting fees, including amounts paid to the Social Security and the Tax Agency, totaling 11 million euros.
“"all invoices were put in order, and it involved months of investigation work, as the lack of control at that time was evident. If the criminal route has not prospered, at least the commercial one has succeeded."
