The PSC of Salt brought to Monday's municipal plenary session a possible conflict of interest for the concession of a nominative subsidy of about 2,000 euros to the Kinbedeball entity, an association linked to the direct family environment of the mayor, Cristina Alarcón.
During the debate, the socialist group questioned that it was the mayor herself who signed the concession decree without abstaining. According to what the PSC stated, the president of Kinbedeball is Alarcón's husband, which is why it understands that the decision raises doubts from the point of view of public ethics and good governance.
The PSC asks for clarifications about the signing of the decree
The socialist spokesperson, Joan Martín, maintained in the plenary session that it is about "a textbook conflict of interests" and recalled that the Code of Ethics and Good Governance of the Salt City Council establishes that elected officials must avoid situations in which personal or family interests may conflict with their public responsibilities.
"It is at least concerning from the point of view of public ethics and good governance" - Joan Martín, spokesperson for the PSC
"When they put her to sign a decree of these characteristics, it is legitimate to ask oneself how it is possible that the mayor does not consider at any moment the ethical incompatibility of the decision" - Joan Martín, spokesperson for the PSC
The PSC defended that, in such a case, the signing of the decree should have fallen on another municipal official to avoid any doubt about the procedure.
The mayor says she left the entity upon assuming office
The mayor responded in the plenary session that she is no longer part of the association since she assumed political responsibilities. She explained that she stopped being a member of Kinbedeball when she took office and maintained that, as mayor, she signs the decrees processed in the City Council.
"I haven't been part of the association for a long time" - Cristina Alarcón, mayor of Salt
Alarcón also announced that he would transfer the case to the municipal technical services to review if the procedure has been followed correctly. He also committed to transferring the response to the socialist group when he has it.
An entity with habitual presence in the cultural life of Salt
Kinbedeball was founded in 1997 and is dedicated to the dissemination of traditional dances. The entity regularly participates in festive activities of the municipality and has more than 200 members.
The association received in 2015 the Premi Tres de Març in recognition of its trajectory and its involvement in the local cultural life.