Fèlix Alonso, the former mayor of Altafulla in Tarragona and a current Sumar MP, told the Spanish Supreme Court that contracts under investigation were awarded based on technical criteria. He stated that “in no case” were political or partisan considerations applied. Defence sources indicated that the case's investigation has revealed contradictory technical reports, with some explicitly supporting the contracting method used.
Alonso testified as a suspect in a case of alleged administrative prevarication. This relates to the direct awarding of contracts during his tenure as mayor of Altafulla between 2011 and 2019. Former councillors Salvador Milà and Joan Ignasi Elena also testified in connection with the same case.
The Supreme Court decided to open proceedings against Alonso last April. The alleged administrative prevarication involves the direct awarding of contracts to Milà Advocats SLP and Sinergia Energia Dret i Medi Ambient SLP while he was mayor. According to the Supreme Court, the MP allegedly engaged in a pattern of contracting through minor contracts. This method “evaded publicity requirements, allowed direct awarding, and enabled an arbitrary choice of the contractor.”
Supreme Court magistrates found that the former mayor allegedly acted this way “to give an appearance of legality.” They do not rule out further irregularities because “the contracting method was accompanied by a billing dynamic to pay for the services.” The case began in the Vendrell court. Part of it was referred to the Supreme Court because Alonso is a member of the Spanish parliament, while another part went to the High Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC) because Elena is an ERC MP in the Catalan parliament.
Technical Criteria Guided Contracts
Alonso argued that the events occurred during a period of “extraordinary growth” in Altafulla. This growth was not matched by human resources within the council. “The town council was forced to address new needs with a severely limited staff due to the restrictions of the Montoro law, which hindered the incorporation of specialised personnel,” he added.
It was in this context that the professional firm of Salvador Milà, described as a “recognised jurist of prestige,” and Sinergia were contracted. Sinergia's team, according to the same sources, consists of “specialised professionals” in urban planning, administrative law, and the environment, with “extensive experience in providing services to public administrations.”
The defence maintains that these contracts were based exclusively on criteria of technical specialisation, professional experience, and trust derived from their engagement. They also pointed to a “doctrinal and jurisprudential” debate on whether such services should be fully subject to the ordinary public procurement regime, as they “incorporate a component of personal trust.”
Sources reiterated that the investigation itself has shown “contradictory” technical reports, with some supporting the contracting method used. “In any case, the evidence gathered proves that the services provided by the firms were unique, distinct, and perfectly individualisable.” They also stressed that “even if the contracting formula used were considered incorrect,” the actions would only constitute an “administrative matter in the field of public procurement.” The defence concluded, “In no case does the existence of the typical elements required by criminal law emerge.”
Next Steps in the Investigation
The Supreme Court's investigation into Fèlix Alonso and the other former councillors will continue. The court will consider the defence's arguments and the contradictory technical reports. Further legal proceedings will determine if the contracting methods used constitute administrative prevarication or merely administrative irregularities. The outcome could set precedents for how public administrations in Catalonia handle similar service contracts, particularly in situations of limited resources.