Valencia Authorities Prepare to Suspend Transparency Director Over Azud Case. The director of transparency for the Valencia government faces possible suspension amid corruption allegations from his previous tenure at city hall. Authorities have announced plans to impose party sanctions.
The authorities of the Valencian Community have announced their intention to suspend the membership of Jorge Bellver, the regional government's Director of Transparency, in the Partido Popular. The reason is his procedural status in the Azud case, which is related to corruption schemes in the Valencia city administration during the leadership of Rita Barberá. The decision regarding a possible party sanction was confirmed by the head of the Generalitat and acting leader of the PPCV, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, who emphasized that the party must act in accordance with its statutes.
The Valencia court yesterday confirmed Bellver's status as a suspect in a case of accepting bribes for facilitating municipal contracts between 1999 and 2013. According to the investigation materials, he received expensive gifts, including watches, champagne, and luxury items, which investigators believe may be connected to his work in the city administration.
Responding to questions about Bellver's future as Director of Transparency, Pérez Llorca said the decision regarding his position will be made after a meeting of the party's ethics committee. He also stressed that the presumption of innocence applies until a final court decision is reached. If the accusations are confirmed, Llorca said that all measures stipulated by the party's statutes will be applied to Bellver.
The Azud case has become one of the largest corruption investigations in recent years in Valencia. Belver came under investigation back in 2019, when he held the position of deputy and vice-speaker of the regional parliament. In 2022, he was offered the right to a defense, but during questioning he refused to testify. As noted by russpain.com, such corruption cases in Spain often become the subject of political disputes between parties, as can be seen in other high-profile proceedings involving regional authorities. Recent statements by the opposition and the government on other high-profile issues also highlight the tension in the political climate..
At the same time, at an event in Valencia, Llorca announced the launch of a new streamlined administrative system for energy companies. Now, specialized organizations will be able to independently review documents on power grids and renewable sources, provided that an environmental assessment is not required. This should speed up approvals and reduce the bureaucratic burden on businesses.
During his speech, Llorca again accused Pedro Sánchez's government of politicizing the issue of water resources and undermining the interests of Alicante's agriculture due to reduced water transfers through the Tajo-Segura system. He recalled that the Supreme Court recently upheld environmental regulations for the Tajo River, rejecting the largest farmers' association's complaint. According to Llorca, the government's decision to cut water supplies is politically motivated, despite the fact that Spain continues to fund similar projects abroad.
For reference: the Azud case is connected to a large-scale investigation into corruption in Valencia's urban planning sector. In recent years, Spain has tightened transparency requirements for officials, and party charters provide for automatic suspension of membership if a corruption suspect status is confirmed. The question of Belver's future and his position remains unresolved until all procedures are completed.
