Francisco de la Torre, 84, will be the PP candidate in the 2027 local elections. The longest-serving mayor of Spain's major cities seeks his seventh consecutive term with megaprojects such as the new Málaga CF stadium or the metro expansion.
Francisco de la Torre, 84, has confirmed that he will again be the PP candidate in the 2027 municipal elections. The current mayor of Málaga, who has accumulated 26 years in office, aims for his seventh consecutive victory. "I am willing to continue working with commitment, with dedication to the service of all Málaga residents," he has assured. His intention, he insisted, is to serve a four-year term "as long as health allows".
However, the opposition believes that his project is "exhausted" and points to him as the "main responsible for the serious housing crisis". But the mayor defends that there are still significant challenges ahead. The city has a handful of megaprojects on the table that will shape its future in the next decade. Some are already underway; others are stalled.
The new Málaga CF stadium: €414 million
The new stadium for Málaga CF will be one of the major challenges of the next term. The Junta, the City Council, and the Provincial Council have decided it will be built in the university area of Teatinos. The cost amounts to €414 million and will have a capacity of between 45,000 and 55,000 spectators. The works will last six years, so it will not be ready until 2032. The club will play at La Rosaleda during the construction.
The move means leaving Martiricos after more than 80 years of history. But the Teatinos option allows compliance with UEFA's highest standards and has metro and bus connections. A decision that will mark the future of Málaga football and transform the university environment.
Burial of Valle Inclán Avenue: €27 million
Valle Inclán Avenue, one of the main congestion hotspots in the city with over 55,000 vehicles daily, will finally be buried. The Local Government Board has approved the budget modification to initiate the bidding process. The project, which will cost €26.7 million, will start in 2027 and extend until 2030. The action includes an underpass and a buried branch to alleviate traffic.
For the local residents, this work will provide relief in their daily lives. Traffic jams on Valle Inclán are a constant, and the burial promises to reduce travel times and improve air quality.
Metro expansion: €244 million
The line 2 of the metro will extend to the new Virgen de la Esperanza Hospital with an investment of €244 million. The three sections of the extension, which total 1.8 kilometers entirely underground, will be under construction during 2026. The project will serve the Bailén-Miraflores district, with over 60,000 inhabitants, and improve mobility across the northern part of the city.
This expansion is key to connecting northern Málaga with the centre and the coast. Residents of Bailén-Miraflores have been demanding improvements in public transport for years, and the metro seems to be the definitive solution.
The auditorium: €210 million
The mayor has accelerated plans to start the auditorium's construction before the year ends. The execution will last four years, a full term. "At the last Film Festival, I didn't even ask the minister about it," he noted, throwing in the towel with the central government. The project will be tendered through Promálaga.
The auditorium, costing €210 million, will be a top-level cultural facility. It is expected to attract international events and energise the cultural offering of the capital. However, Málaga residents wonder if the funding will be secured without state support.
The port tower, at a standstill
The skyscraper that was to crown the Levante dock of Málaga port is, after a decade of ups and downs, at a standstill. The project, which generated great anticipation, has failed to take off. De la Torre has not provided details about its future, but all signs point to it remaining shelved.
Meanwhile, the mayor prepares for a new electoral campaign. At 84 and with 26 years in office, his figure continues to generate debate. For some, he is the stability Málaga needs; for others, a burden that hinders generational change. The truth is that, if he wins, he will become the mayor with the longest tenure in all of Spain.
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