A scandal has erupted in the municipality of Naut d’Aran (Lleida): the current mayor, César Ruiz-Canela Nieto, has admitted guilt in a sexual harassment case involving a young woman. The incident took place in the summer of 2022 at a nightclub in Vielha, where the official behaved inappropriately—he harassed the woman and lifted her skirt right on the dance floor.
The legal proceedings ended with the mayor accepting the charges and receiving a fine of €3,240, as well as being ordered to pay the victim €15,000 in compensation over two years in installments. In addition, he is prohibited from approaching the victim for four years and from working with minors for three years. Despite this, the law does not require him to step down as mayor, and he has firmly stated that he has no intention of resigning, considering the incident a personal matter.
The case has sparked a strong reaction among locals and politicians. The opposition, led by Marc Tarrau, is calling for the mayor’s immediate resignation, stressing that such behavior is incompatible with holding public office. The criticism is particularly pointed given that the municipality has a dedicated department for equality issues, while the head of the administration has become involved in a sexual harassment case.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time Ruiz-Canela’s name has been at the center of a scandal. In 2011, he was already convicted of drunk driving and insulting police officers after threatening them during a breathalyzer test. Despite these incidents, he has held the mayor’s office since 2007 and shows no intention of stepping down voluntarily.
A video recorded that night in the club at the victim’s own request became key evidence in the case. After news of the verdict was published, the public and opposition parties increased pressure on the mayor, demanding his immediate resignation. An extraordinary municipal council meeting is expected soon, where the issue will be addressed officially.
