Electoral Board Rules Santa Cruz Mayor Misused Official Channels for Partisan Attacks
The Provincial Electoral Board has ordered Santa Cruz Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez to remove partisan content from municipal platforms, ruling that he violated election laws by using official channels to attack political opponents.
The debate over political neutrality during election season has reignited following a recent decision by the Provincial Electoral Board. The board partially upheld a complaint from the PSOE against Santa Cruz Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez, ruling that he misused official city channels to attack his political opponents.
The ruling orders the mayor to remove a statement regarding the waste collection tax from municipal platforms. The board found that this content violated Article 50.2 of the Organic Law of the General Electoral Regime (LOREG), which forbids public officials from using government resources for campaigns that include value judgments or attempt to influence voters. According to the board, the mayor crossed this line by using an official platform to criticize Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and local socialist spokesperson Patricia Hernández.
Beyond the order to delete the post, the resolution underscores the thin line between providing public information and spreading partisan propaganda. The board concluded that by blaming political rivals for tax hikes and questioning the opposition, the mayor failed to maintain the impartiality required of public institutions during an election. While the board decided against opening formal disciplinary proceedings against Bermúdez, the ruling serves as a clear warning: public resources must not be used for ideological attacks or political debate.