A mural supporting Ceuta and Spain was painted over within hours at an entrance to Tarragona's Bonavista Sunday market, according to El Catalán. The removal has prompted a dispute over how political messages in public spaces are treated, after the outlet alleged that pro-independence murals and banners are not removed as quickly.

The mural had been created at about 8.45am on Saturday by members of the Coordinadora de la Resistencia de Tarragona, the outlet said. By about 2pm, employees of Mercats de Tarragona, the municipal company responsible for markets, had covered it with grey paint.

For Bonavista market visitors and Tarragona residents, the immediate consequence was that the display was no longer visible on the access route to the weekly market. The report did not establish who ordered its removal.

“There could be no greater diligence in removing it,” El Catalán said, while alleging different treatment for separatist murals and banners.

Mercats faces separate Antifrau inquiry over contracts

The mural episode is separate from a preliminary inquiry by the Oficina Antifrau de Catalunya, Catalonia's anti-fraud office, into Mercats de Tarragona's contractual arrangements with a former municipal employee.

According to Diari de Tarragona, Antifrau admitted a complaint received on 10 February and opened initial checks after sending a request signed by its investigations director, Manel Díaz, on 1 April.

The inquiry concerns two alleged irregularities:

  • a services contract that could have concealed an employment relationship; and
  • a possible conflict of interest involving a former employee who received contracts after previous links with Mercats and Tarragona City Council.

Antifrau asked Mayor Rubén Viñuales, of the PSC, the Catalan Socialist Party, to provide documentation on the person's contractual or employment relationships over the previous 40 months, from January 2023 onwards. The request gave the council 10 working days to respond.

For Tarragona residents who use the city's municipal markets, the inquiry places the public company's contracting arrangements under external administrative scrutiny. The allegations remain at an early preliminary stage, according to Diari de Tarragona.

Mercats president Montse Adan, of the PSC, called an extraordinary board meeting to inform directors about Antifrau's request, Diari de Tarragona reported.

Primary sources: govern.cat. Reported by elcatalan.es, diaridetarragona.com, cronicaglobal.elespanol.com.