A political crisis is unfolding in Algeciras, centered around the actions of the entourage of mayor and senator José Ignacio Landaluce. At the heart of the issue are attempts to influence former municipal colleagues in order to conceal possible cases of harassment. The story began when a close associate of the mayor, who also represents the party’s regional branch, tried to persuade former councilor Laura Ruiz not to confirm the credibility of accusations discussed in a private WhatsApp chat.
An audio recording that has been made public reveals Marcos Borrego, a lawyer and senior party official in Málaga, urging Ruiz not to confirm the incidents discussed in the messages. He even proposed that she sign a letter attributing her actions to temporary psychological distress. However, Ruiz refused to sign the document.
Landaluce himself, who has temporarily suspended his party duties, maintains that the allegations of pressure are unfounded. Meanwhile, internal tensions within the party are rising, and the mayor has found himself increasingly isolated, with many colleagues no longer responding to his calls.
Accusations and counterstatements
In October 2024, the local Socialist branch announced its intention to file a complaint against Landaluce over reports that had surfaced in the public domain. A formal complaint was submitted to the Supreme Court prosecutor’s office on December 9, 2025. The very next day, the mayor announced his temporary suspension from all party positions, but continued to fulfill his public duties.
The regional branch of the party in Cádiz initiated administrative suspension proceedings against Landaluce, which, according to party statutes, is not a temporary measure. The mayor himself confirmed that a meeting between Ruiz and his legal advisers did take place, but categorically denied any pressure.
Disagreements persist within the party. In November 2025, the head of the autonomous community and leader of the regional party branch publicly praised Landaluce’s achievements, yet the scandal has not subsided since the first reports of harassment emerged.
Reactions from participants and new details
Two other participants in the correspondence, Susana Pérez and Eva Pajares, called the information that emerged a ‘fake news’ and a ‘distortion,’ but did not deny the authenticity of the messages themselves. The details now coming to light link the current scandal to events in 2022, when Ruiz had already reported being pressured following a court case over disclosure of personal data.
The socialists’ complaint includes other allegations, such as the misuse of funds. According to them, Ruiz was initially appointed as a trusted representative and then transferred to work at a municipal institution. In response, Landaluce published a letter from Ruiz in which she apologized for her previous accusations, attributing them to her emotional state at the time.
Political climate
The situation in the municipality remains tense. Since Landaluce became an independent mayor, his fifteen former party colleagues have continued to stay within the party. Ahead of the next city council meeting scheduled for Friday, the city is anticipating new statements and potentially further developments.
Intra-party disagreements, allegations of pressure and attempts to hide inconvenient facts, as well as public statements from those involved, have made this scandal one of the most talked-about in the region in recent months.
