Málaga’s Provincial Electoral Board has upheld the appeal lodged by the Partido Popular against the ruling of the Marbella Zone Electoral Board and has concluded that Manilva Town Hall breached its duty of institutional neutrality during the election period in connection with the promotion of the mobilisation held on 22 April.
The ruling, issued in electoral case file 5/2026, orders the immediate removal of content published through the council’s institutional channels, as well as a halt to the use of public resources for this type of activity.
The key point: use of institutional channels, but not the bus
The decision focuses on the Town Hall’s use of institutional media, especially social media, to promote a call to action with a mobilising tone.
In any event, and following the course of events, it has been established that the bus was ultimately not paid for with public money, as the full cost was covered by Autocares Sierra Bermeja after the appeal we made from this newsroom.
Removal of posts and physical material
The Electoral Board extends the scope of the ruling to any format related to the call to action, including social media, the council website and also posters or physical items put up in the municipality.
It also warns that disciplinary proceedings could be opened if similar conduct is repeated using council resources, without this limiting the exercise of the right to freedom of expression and citizen participation, meaning the posters could continue to be put up by the families themselves without using public resources.
The evidence provided by the PP calls into question its own account
One of the aspects that has attracted most attention since the ruling became known is the inclusion of documentary evidence and photographs in the complaint which, according to the party, would show posters being put up by council workers.
This part of the complaint introduces an evident contradiction in the political account given until now. The Partido Popular in Manilva had insisted that the complaint was the result of a procedure driven at provincial level, without the participation or knowledge of the local branch.
However, the nature of the evidence provided —photographic material taken in the municipality— hardly fits with an action completely unconnected to the local sphere, which raises many doubts and questions about the consistency of that version, in which they publicly say they are on the side of the families and acknowledge the pressing need for that second secondary school, but submit photographic evidence in the complaint in an attempt to stop these demonstrations, which are currently a direct responsibility of the Partido Popular itself at regional level.
It is more than obvious that this photographic documentation necessarily requires first-hand knowledge of the area, which leaves the initial argument defended by the party in the municipality in a delicate position.
Order to remove posters in schools
At the same time, another notable development has taken place today. According to information obtained by this newsroom, the Education Inspectorate has contacted schools to order the immediate removal of protest posters relating to the construction of a new secondary school in Manilva.
The measure has once again caused great discontent among families and groups involved, who consider that it affects a widely supported and much-needed community demand.
An unnecessary conflict that strengthens the resolve of the AMPAS, who remind
The ruling of the Provincial Electoral Board marks a turning point in this process, which continues to evolve and clarify responsibilities.
Meanwhile, the AMPAS (parents’ associations) are maintaining their demand and will continue the fight to present their claims to whichever bodies or institutions are necessary, reminding Mr Miguel Briones, Provincial Education Delegate for Málaga, of his words that repair works would begin in May at the current secondary school, as he committed to the president of the AMPA and the school’s head teacher at the meeting on 13 March, and that so far there is no evidence at the school that any works have got under way.
