Residents and traders packed the council chamber and forced its suspension after the rejection to debate an urgent motion on the tax. The mayor could not explain his position amid the shouts.
The plenary session of the Vélez-Málaga Town Hall was adjourned early on Monday, overwhelmed by the protest from residents and traders against the new waste tax. The chamber, almost full, was the scene of ironic applause and shouts of 'out, out' that prevented the agenda from continuing, as reported by Diario Sur.
The trigger came during the urgent matters section, when the request from Andalucía Por Sí to include a proposal to suspend the bills did not succeed. Its spokesperson, José Pino, defended the urgency of the initiative, but the governing team abstained, and the motion did not receive the necessary support to enter the agenda, meaning its content was not even put to a vote.
“After the vote, I will provide an explanation,” said the mayor, Jesús Lupiáñez, before the urgency was voted on.
The decision ignited the attendees, who began to shout at the municipal officials. “You have very little shame” or “you have a lot of nerve” were some of the expressions heard. Lupiáñez attempted to offer the promised explanations, but the continuous interruptions prevented him from doing so.
The mayor repeatedly asked for silence and even warned: “This is not an assembly.” However, the protests continued, and, unable to restore order, he decided to adjourn the session permanently. He left the chamber amid shouts of 'out, out', while several councillors remained in their seats and some approached the residents to try to ease the tension.
The controversy over the tax had already generated political movements before the session. The Independent Group Pro-Municipality of Torre del Mar (GIPMTM), a partner of the PP in the municipal government, had proposed addressing the suspension of the economic activity bills. Additionally, the Town Hall has opened a channel to review with the provincial collection agency the possible incidents in certain cases.
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