Julia Ibáñez Becomes First Female Mayor of El Ejido

Julia Ibáñez was sworn in as the first woman to lead the municipality of El Ejido after an extraordinary plenary session on 31 July 2026. She secured an absolute majority, receiving 15 of the 24 votes cast, while the Vox candidate Beatriz Sánchez obtained six votes and three ballots were left blank. Ibáñez succeeded Francisco Góngora, who vacated the office to become the new Government delegate for the Junta de Andalucía in Almería.

The investiture ceremony was attended by regional officials, including José Antonio García Alcaina, president of the Provincial Deputation of Almería, who highlighted El Ejido’s role as a driver of wealth and employment. The new administration plans to continue major projects such as the construction of new sports pavilions, a joint investment exceeding €10 million, and other urban‑development initiatives, while opposition parties pledged to monitor policies on public safety and agricultural support.