The Provincial Prosecutor’s Office of Valencia has announced an investigation into Vox councillor Juan Manuel Badenas on suspicions of prevarication, embezzlement, and document falsification. This decision follows a complaint made by the Socialist municipal group concerning a potentially irregular sponsorship contract with the editor of OK Diario, worth fourteen thousand five hundred euros plus VAT. The Civil Guard has also acted by demanding contract details from the Ayuntamiento as part of this investigation.

José Gosálbez, who took over as spokesperson for Vox after Badenas was suspended, stated his respect for judicial proceedings and emphasised the presumption of innocence. Despite the controversy, Badenas was readmitted to the party shortly after his suspension under the condition that he acknowledged his mistake. The mayor of Valencia, María José Catalá, temporarily expelled him but later reinstated him once the internal party investigation concluded.

The allegations have been contested by Badenas, who claims that the contracts are legitimate, citing a legal advisory report that apparently supports their validity. Meanwhile, the Socialist Party and Compromís continue to highlight what they perceive as serious irregularities, suggesting that Badenas’s dealings warrant further scrutiny.

The Socialist spokesperson in Valencia, Borja Sanjuan, indicated that his party will decide later on whether to pursue personal prosecution. He remarked that recent findings regarding Badenas’s management show a concerning pattern of behaviour and called for accountability, given that taxpayers could bear the financial consequences of Badenas’s actions.