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[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE] · [POLITICS]
7 clusters · 24 sources · 44 days · First seen · Last updated
Alicante Les Naus housing scandal investigation
Overview
The ‘Les Naus’ housing scandal in Alicante involves allegations that protected housing units within the development were distributed to associates of the ruling People’s Party. Specific individuals mentioned in the controversy include former Urban Planning Councilor Rocío Gómez and relatives of the current Head of Contracting, María Pérez-Hickman. During City Council plenary sessions, Mayor Luis Barcala has faced questioning from opposition members of the PSOE, Compromís, and Esquerra Unida-Podem regarding transparency and the distribution of these units. The Mayor has declined to answer specific questions, deferring responsibility to Deputy Mayor Manuel Villar. A municipal investigation commission was established but has been criticized by the political party Vox, which claims the process failed due to missing documentation and a refusal by officials to testify. Judicial developments have intensified the probe. Former PP councilor Toni Gallego testified that he knew as early as July 2024 that Gómez was a beneficiary and that she requested he substitute her in a plenary session to avoid complications. Villar has contested this, asserting Gallego was already assigned to answer questions. Pressure on Villar has increased following statements from Pérez-Hickman, who reportedly informed him in February 2022 that her relatives had entered the cooperative. While Villar denied having this knowledge during an extraordinary session, Pérez-Hickman maintains she informed him and the former Head of Legal Services, Manuel Cordón. The judicial investigation has expanded to 18 suspects. Additionally, the Generalitat Valenciana has initiated the right of first refusal to acquire two protected units owned by Gómez and the cooperative’s administrator, Francisco Ordiñana. In a recent development, a judge investigating the case has requested that Les Corts provide a full video recording of Toni Gallego’s testimony before the parliamentary investigation commission. This follows an unanswered demand from September.
Entities
Rocío Gómez · Alicante City Council · María Pérez-Hickman · Manuel Villar · Alicante
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The judge has summoned the president, vice-president, and secretary of the cooperative's governing board as formal suspects.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The total number of people under formal investigation in the Les Naus case has risen to 18.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The judge has requested information from the Alicante City Council regarding the disposal process of the municipal plot between July 10, 2018, and September 5, 2018.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The court is investigating documentation related to doubts regarding the price of the land parcel.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The political party Compromís must post a €3,000 bail bond to be admitted to the proceedings as a popular party.
Timeline
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[CRIME] 10 sourcesAlicante judge requests parliamentary recording in Les Naus housing case
An Alicante judge has reiterated a request to the Valencian Parliament for a recording of former councillor Toni Gallego’s testimony regarding housing allocations at the Les Naus residential complex.
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[POLITICS] 2 sourcesAlicante housing authority initiates purchase of protected apartments
The Generalitat Valenciana is exercising its right of first refusal to acquire two protected apartments in Alicante's Residencial Les Naus amid a judicial investigation into the development's management.
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[CRIME] 6 sourcesLes Naus housing scandal: 18 people under investigation in Alicante
The Les Naus housing scandal in Alicante expands to 18 suspects as a judge investigates the municipal land sale and potential conflicts of interest involving city officials and a housing cooperative.
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[POLITICS] 2 sourcesAlicante Deputy Mayor Villar faces pressure over Les Naus case
Opposition parties in Alicante have called for an urgent plenary session to question Deputy Mayor Manuel Villar over his knowledge of the Les Naus case dating back to 2022.
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[CRIME] 5 sourcesAlicante corruption probe: Toni Gallego testifies on Les Naus housing
Former Alicante councilor Toni Gallego testified that he knew in 2024 that Rocío Gómez held a protected housing unit in Les Naus, while the Deputy Mayor disputes his account of the plenary session.
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[POLITICS] 2 sourcesAlicante Mayor faces questioning over Les Naus housing scandal
Alicante Mayor Luis Barcala faced intense questioning from opposition parties regarding the Les Naus housing scandal and allegations of preferential treatment in protected housing distribution.
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[POLITICS] 4 sourcesVox criticizes Les Naus investigation in Alicante
Vox has criticized the Les Naus investigation commission in Alicante, claiming it failed to clarify the housing scandal due to missing documentation and the refusal of PP and PSOE officials to testify.
Sources
actualitatvalenciana.com · alicanteplaza.es · atlanticohoy.com · canalblau.cat · diarilaveu.cat · diariodealicante.net · eldiario.es · elfarodehellin.com · europasur.es · inmodiario.com · lacronicabadajoz.com · lamanyana.cat · laopinioncoruna.es · levante-emv.com · munirinconada.cl · ocio.diariodemallorca.es · ocio.diarioinformacion.com · okdiario.com · pleinevie.fr · segre.com · todoalicante.es · torretriangular.com · totsantcugat.cat · valencianoticias.com
This summary has been updated 5 times: see revision history