WHIP-HAND FOR WIFE ABUSER

THE far-right Vox party will get a first taste of power in Valencia after a coalition deal was struck on Tuesday.

The arrangement will see Vox, which won 13 seats, support the PP’s Carlos Mazon (left) as president. The PP

Vox enters power in Valencia despite leader’s controversial far-right and domestic violence past

and Vox won 53 seats between them in last month's regional elections, while the socialists and partners Compromis mustered just 46 seats.

The main stumbling block over a deal was Vox leader Carlos Flores’s shady past, which saw him convicted of domestic violence 20 years ago.

The conviction of a year in prison and €6,000 fine came after ‘continual psychological violence’, in 2002.

The court heard how the 59-yearold professor of constitutional law habitually threatened his ex-partner Magdalena with ‘in-

LOOKY LOOK OUT!

By Alex Trelinski

sults and harassment’ and insulted her in front of their three children on ‘up to 21 occasions’. On one occasion abuse took place outside the gates of a school, and his eldest daughter even called the police. Magdalena and his children moved to a different city in a bid to escape his continuing abuse, which included him standing outside their house and hurling insults, some of a sexual nature. While he was disqualified from politics for a year and banned from approaching his ex for three years, he is now allowed to serve as a politician again. Under the new deal with the PP, Flores, who had close links with shady right-wing group, Fuerza Nueva, will not become Valencia’s Vice President. He has agreed to withdraw from a government role for the coalition to form. However, he will instead be named at the top of Valencia’s list for the July 23 general election. The PP had insisted his conviction was a ‘red line’ to him getting a government position.

PUNTERS who purchase low-cost imitation goods from street sellers face fines in Torrevieja this summer.

Under local bylaws, they face spot-penalties for buying the knock-off goods.

It comes as a warning as the resort is taking action to clear pavements of illegal street sellers.

Mayor Eduardo Dolon has asked local and national police to make regular spot checks on immigration status as over a third of are not allowed to live in Spain.

Dolon has also promised to increase local police patrols and also get more assistance from the Guardia Civil.

The unlicensed hawkers, who frequently sell fake goods, often take up large spaces along the city's main promenade.

Legitimate businesses have complained for years their livelihoods are being threatened by low prices offered by the vendors.

Councillor, Federico Alarcon, says the situation is 'happening daily' and has sent a 'detailed' file of photos to the Alicante authorities.

Talks were scheduled this week between the various branches of the police in Torrevieja and the Alicante authorities.

However, the delegate for the region failed to appear.

“His absence was inexcusable and nobody was sent in his place,” slammed Dolon. Posters will be erected along the promenade warning people that a local by-law exists where purchasers can be fined for buying items from the sellers.

In 2013, Torrevieja tried a 'strong-arm' approach as terrace chairs and tables were hurled into the street by sellers during a stand-off with the police. Thousands of items were seized then and burnt at a municipal site, but the sellers soon reappeared.

The new coalition deal means that Vox will, for now, take over the speaker’s position in the Valencian parliament - Les Corts.

The PP will also hold the vice-presidency while Vox will run some ministries in what will be a down-sized government team compared to the previous administration.

Freedom

PP and Vox officials said they would govern on five principles: the freedom to choose in all walks of life including education; tax cuts; health and social services; support for families as the ‘nucleus of society’; and protecting a unique ‘Valencian’ identity.

No date has yet been announced for Mazon’s investiture as president.

No rest day

SUNDAY shopping resumes this weekend for the rest of the year in Valencian Community tourist areas under the region’s ‘six months off, six months on rules’.

Deposit con

AN Elche real estate agent and two employees have been arrested for defrauding seven customers who paid deposits of up to €4,000 each for the same apartment.

Vandals copped

TWO Alicante men who did €1,500 of damage to two Policia Nacional cars by jumping up and down on their roofs and bonnets have been arrested after posting a social media video of the incident.

Memory loss

A drunken man was pulled out of an underground garbage collector in Murcia City’s Plaza de San Agustin and taken to hospital. The man, in his forties, told rescuers he didn’t know how he fell in.