Last Monday, the Vox municipal group in Lleida issued a statement claiming that the city council’s special Ethics and Good Governance Commission had concluded that its two councilors, Gloria Rico and Josep Roca, had not violated the municipal code of ethics. That claim is absolutely false. The commission’s reports, published on the official Paeria website, prove exactly the opposite: the councilors breached “the principles of respect and exemplarity set forth in the code of ethics for the exercise of public activities of the city council.” This is not a matter of political interpretation; it is a documented fact. And what makes this episode a major scandal is not just the ethical sanction, but Vox’s deliberate lie to its own voters, denying evidence that any citizen can check. On top of this, the mayor, Fèlix Larrosa, has referred the local Vox leader to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for incitement to hatred. The case is no longer a simple local squabble: it is an institutional conflict that tests the credibility of local politics.
The ethics commission speaks clearly: proven breach
The special Ethics and Good Governance Commission, a body created precisely to ensure the exemplarity of public officials, analyzed the statements made by Vox councilors during the plenary session on June 27, 2025. The reports, as recorded in the official publication of the Paeria, are conclusive.
Josep Roca stated that day: “public resources should be allocated to vital aspects like healthcare and education, but perhaps for [Pedro] Sánchez and his clique, the vital thing is to allocate them to cocaine and prostitutes.” The commission considered that this expression, which links the President of the Government with illegal and degrading activities, violates the principle of respect that should guide any councilor’s conduct.
For her part, Gloria Rico told deputy mayor Carme Valls (PSC): “unfortunately, every day with the implementation of your policies, there are more women dying.” She also reproached the promoters of a motion on Gaza for “looking the other way when their taxes are used to subsidize cases of prostitution, drugs, and other atrocities.” The commission considered that these accusations, lacking evidentiary basis, undermine the exemplarity required of a public official.
Additionally, Josep Roca posted a message on his X social media account calling Mayor Fèlix Larrosa a “compulsive liar” and a “shameless person.” According to the commission, this tweet reinforces a pattern of institutional disrespect.
Vox’s lie: a statement that contradicts the facts
On Monday, the Vox municipal group issued a statement claiming the commission had concluded that the code of ethics was not violated. The reality is the opposite. The signed and dated reports are posted on the Paeria website for anyone to verify. Why did Vox lie? The most likely answer is that they tried to neutralize the political impact of the sanction before the news became public. But the strategy has backfired: now they not only face an ethical sanction but have also been caught in a lie that further erodes the trust of their voters.
This behavior is not new for the far-right party. In other municipalities across Spain, Vox has resorted to false statements or denial of proven facts to dodge criticism. What is happening in Lleida is another example of a strategy that prioritizes propaganda over truth. For an audience that values transparency and honesty in public management, this attitude is unacceptable.
The mayor refers Vox leader to the Prosecutor’s Office for incitement to hatred
The conflict does not stop at the ethical level. Mayor Fèlix Larrosa has announced he will refer the Vox leader in Lleida to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for inciting xenophobia. Although the specific details of the complaint have not been made public, the decision to escalate the case to criminal proceedings indicates that the City Council believes the Vox councilors’ statements go beyond mere political debate and may constitute a hate crime.
This legal action has a clear precedent: in recent years, several Spanish city councils have reported Vox councilors for statements linking immigrants to crime or criminalizing vulnerable groups. In Lleida, the situation is particularly sensitive because the city has experienced increased social tension in neighborhoods with a high concentration of migrant populations. Larrosa’s decision, as a Socialist mayor governing in a minority, aims to send a strong message: words have consequences, and hate speech will not be tolerated in institutions.
The impact on the Lleida citizen: mistrust and polarization
For the Lleida resident who feels Spanish and votes for constitutionalist parties like VOX or PP, this case is a cold shower. On one hand, it confirms the suspicion that many politicians, regardless of their affiliation, lie to save themselves. On the other, it reveals that Catalan independence is not the only problem in local politics: the far-right also generates conflicts that distract from essential issues like managing public safety, irregular immigration, or corruption.
Data from the Ministry of the Interior indicates that crime in Lleida has increased by 12% in the last year, with particular incidence in robberies with violence and theft. Meanwhile, Vox councilors spend their plenary interventions insulting the mayor and launching baseless accusations. Citizens deserve better: politicians focused on solving real problems, not fueling polarization with lies.
Reflection on the future: transparency as the only way out
This episode leaves several lessons. The first is that the Paeria’s Ethics and Good Governance Commission has worked correctly, demonstrating that internal control mechanisms can be effective when applied rigorously. The second is that Vox has been exposed: its strategy of denying evidence is not only dishonest but weakens its credibility with those who still trusted them.
The future of local politics in Lleida depends on greater transparency and on demanding accountability from all groups, without exception. Mayor Larrosa has taken a bold step by referring the case to the Prosecutor’s Office, but the ball is now in the court of the justice system. If the Prosecutor’s Office accepts the complaint, a process will open that could set an important precedent regarding the limits of political discourse.
For Lleida citizens who feel Spanish and defend the Constitution, the conclusion is clear: political lies have no place in a healthy democracy. Vox has failed its voters. Now it is up to them to decide whether to continue trusting those who prefer deceit over truth.