Mayor of Tàrrega loses confidence vote but budget moves forward

Alba Pijuan failed to secure council support but the 2026 budget will be enacted automatically in March.

Generic image of an empty municipal council chamber with microphones and wooden furniture.
IA

Generic image of an empty municipal council chamber with microphones and wooden furniture.

The Mayor of Tàrrega, Alba Pijuan, lost a crucial confidence vote this Wednesday regarding the 2026 municipal budget, marking a historic political shift in the Urgell region.

The opposition parties, Junts per Tàrrega and CUP, voted against the mayor with eleven votes, while only the six councilors from the ERC and PSC coalition supported her. This is the first time since the restoration of democracy that such a vote has taken place in the city.
Despite the loss, the budget is set for automatic approval on March 26. This legal mechanism can only be stopped if the opposition presents a formal motion of censure and agrees on an alternative candidate with an absolute majority within the next thirty days.

"Without a budget, Tàrrega stands still. No investments can be made, no new hiring can occur, and no subsidies can be given to local entities."

Alba Pijuan · Mayor of Tàrrega
Opposition leader Rosa Maria Perelló stated that her group has begun talks with CUP to explore a government alternative, claiming the current political cycle is exhausted. Meanwhile, CUP spokesperson Laia Recasens criticized the government for failing to negotiate the financial plan.