The spokesperson for the Pozuelo Government, Félix Alba, justified in the July Plenary the decision not to fully publish the Opposition's questions on the municipal electronic headquarters, sparking criticism from the opposition and local community groups.
The spokesperson for the municipal government of Pozuelo de Alarcón, Félix Alba, has responded to criticism regarding the lack of transparency in publishing the Opposition's questions in the Plenary. During the July session, Alba defended the current policy of opacity, claiming that "the answer implies the question", a statement that has been deemed "ridiculous" by the opposition and local media such as El Correo de Pozuelo.
A practice that has persisted for years
The controversy is not new. For years, the Pozuelo City Council has not fully published the written questions that the Opposition presents to the Plenary, limiting itself to including only the statement in the agenda and a response that, according to critics, does not always correspond to what was asked. The opposition, led by Vox Pozuelo, brought an oral question to the July Plenary regarding the publication of these issues on the electronic headquarters, hoping for a correction that never came.
Félix Alba, who was once considered "the great white hope" of the local government, used arguments such as the RAE dictionary to justify the municipal stance, which was interpreted as an attempt to distort reality. "He defended the indefensible," opposition sources say, reminding that the law requires the full recording of questions in the Plenary minutes.
Examples of responses that clarify nothing
To demonstrate that Alba's statement is false, the opposition has presented examples of responses in which the original question cannot be deduced. In one instance, the response mentions an "eventual" without specifying what it refers to; in another, it talks about "ATAM" without clarifying what it is or where it is located. "You bring shame to others," critics have denounced, considering this practice illegal and a disregard for the oversight role of the opposition.
The government spokesperson, far from rectifying, stated that the model will not change, which has been interpreted as an act of arrogance. "I suppose it’s for their holy stubbornness," they sarcastically remark from the opposition, recalling that this attitude was previously denounced with councillor Susana Penedo and the suggestions and complaints.
A zero cost that the Government refuses to assume
The most striking aspect of the case is that publishing the complete questions incurs no cost for the City Council. It simply involves uploading documents that already exist to the electronic headquarters. "What political fear do they have? Fear of the arguments we provide to ask the questions?" they question from the opposition, which believes that the Pozuelo Government hides information out of fear of criticism.
The general secretary of the Plenary, Gonzalo Cerrillo, has also been pointed out for not ensuring compliance with the law. "Not publishing the complete questions is illegal, without a doubt," warn sources familiar with the process, reminding that the questions are part of the Plenary and must be fully recorded in the minutes.
For the residents of Pozuelo, this lack of transparency represents a reduction in their right to know what their representatives are doing. The opposition has announced that it will continue to take the matter to court if necessary, while the Government remains firm in its position. "Sustain it and do not amend it," summarise from El Correo de Pozuelo, which has been denouncing this practice for years.
The video of the Plenary, available on YouTube, shows Félix Alba defending his position with gestures and jokes that, according to critics, aim to divert attention from the core issue. Meanwhile, the residents of Pozuelo still cannot access the complete questions from the Opposition, a situation that directly affects the democratic quality of the municipality.
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