The Madrid Provincial Court has acquitted Belén Rodríguez, the Mayor of Villa del Prado, from the Popular Party, of continuous administrative misconduct charges dating back to 2019. These accusations emerged from a complaint by a local councilor from the Vecinos por Villa del Prado party. The charges claimed she hired plumbing and electrical services without public bidding, risking a 12-year ban from public office. After a prolonged seven-year legal battle, Rodríguez retains her position, as she has throughout the proceedings.

"It felt like a long journey, but I'm thrilled," Rodríguez commented to EL PAÍS after the verdict was announced. The court document, seen by this newspaper, emphasized there was no evidence of collusion between her and the companies, nor any personal gain from the contract awards.

Having served as the mayor since 2007 and previously as a councilor, Rodríguez inherited the situation where Cochele Electricidad S.L. and Instalaciones Barbero S.L. provided electrical and plumbing services without formal contracts. The process was straightforward: residents reported issues like "a broken pipe" or "a streetlight fault" to the town hall, which then directed the relevant company to address the problem.

The council approved the invoices, which were paid by transfer without objection. "The simplicity of this system reflects the governance of a small municipality of just around seven thousand residents," the ruling noted. Between 2014 and 2017, annual invoices totaled 633,400 euros paid to the two firms.

Following opposition complaints, a formal public contract was tendered in 2019, awarded to Instalaciones Barbero S.L. The ruling not only cleared Rodríguez of personal gain from the direct contracts but also highlighted that service costs had risen since formal bidding began, as confirmed in court by representatives of both companies.

The case, initiated in the same year as the tender, ended with Tuesday's acquittal. "These seven years seemed endless, especially with social media involvement, feeling like it wouldn't end," Rodríguez remarked, noting at least 12 dismissed charges during her tenure, except this one.

Despite the charges since 2019, Rodríguez ran in the 2023 municipal elections with her party's support. "I had no issues running because the PP's ethical code only prohibits corruption, which this case wasn't," she clarified.

A Madrid PP spokesperson affirmed their defense of Rodríguez, asserting, "This wasn't a corruption case. These were challenging and unjust years for someone victimized by a political agenda from actors now unrepresented. We trust justice and welcome this ruling, affirming the mayor never had a personal, financial, or ulterior motive."