Gijón removes Oliver Suárez as Divertia president amid contract probe

Oliver Suárez was dismissed as president of Divertia, the municipal company that manages Gijón’s festivals, theatres and the International Film Festival. The city council, led by Mayor Carmen Moriyón, convened a meeting to propose his removal and to revoke his annual salary of about €52,000, reducing his remuneration to attendance allowances only.

Izquierda Unida and Podemos announced that they will ask the public prosecutor to investigate fifteen concert contracts signed under Suárez’s tenure, including events featuring Alejandro Sanz and Lola Índigo. The parties allege that the contracts, some exceeding €15,000 and signed without council approval, may constitute prevarication. They plan to obtain the contract files and submit a formal request for a fiscal inquiry.

The move aims to hold Suárez accountable for alleged procedural breaches and to restore proper oversight of Divertia’s contracting process.