The Móstoles City Council has decided not to join the trial regarding the demolition of the Casa Roja, a protected building. The opposition criticises this stance and calls for the defence of municipal heritage.
The Móstoles government has made a controversial decision by rejecting to join as a private prosecution in the judicial proceedings related to the demolition of the Casa Roja, a property considered historical heritage. During the plenary session held this Thursday, the councillor for Presidency and Finance, Sergio María Soler, justified this position by citing a report from the municipal legal services which states that the City Council is not the direct victim in this case.
The controversy arose after an intervention by PSOE councillor Noelia López, who urged the Council to join the cause to protect public interests and ensure that urban planning is respected. López reminded that the Prosecutor's Office has already reported alleged crimes against land use planning due to the demolition of the building located on Ricardo Medem street.
The socialist councillor argued that, as an administration affected by the loss of this emblematic building, the City Council should exercise its right to be part of the judicial process. Furthermore, she warned about the potential legal responsibilities that could arise if no action is taken.
For his part, Soler defended that current legislation prevents the City Council from intervening directly, as the crimes being investigated pertain to a private property. According to him, this limits the Council's ability to act in criminal proceedings where it does not have the status of a victim. In this regard, he cited jurisprudence from the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court which establishes that it is the responsibility of the Public Prosecutor's Office to safeguard general interests in these cases.
Despite this refusal to join as a private prosecution, Soler highlighted that the City Council did take immediate measures by filing a complaint with the Prosecutor's Office, which led to the opening of judicial proceedings on the matter. He also emphasised that two sanctioning files related to the illegal works carried out at the site have been processed by the Municipal Urban Planning Management.
The Casa Roja is an important architectural symbol for Móstoles and its demolition has sparked a wide debate on how to adequately protect historical buildings against aggressive urban projects. This case highlights the tensions between different political parties regarding how local cultural heritage should be managed.
As this judicial process progresses, many citizens are keenly watching how events will unfold and what decisions the local government will ultimately make regarding the future use of the land where the Casa Roja was located. For those interested in following this situation more closely or participating in future meetings on urban planning and historical heritage, it is recommended to keep an eye on the public calls announced by the City Council.
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