[REVISION HISTORY]

Alicante Les Naus housing scandal investigation

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2026-10-31 18:02 UTC → 2026-11-04 12:36 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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.

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