José Torres Hurtado Explained

José Torres Hurtado (born 15 October 1946) is a Spanish People's Party (PP) politician. He was a member of the Congress of Deputies (1982–1986), Senate (1986–1989), Government Delegate in Andalusia (1996–2002) and mayor of Granada (2003–2016). He resigned from the last role due to implication in a corruption scandal.^[1]

Biography

Born in Píñar in the province of Granada, Torres Hurtado is a farmer. After serving in both houses of the Cortes Generales and as a Government Delegate for the People's Party and its predecessor the Popular Alliance, he was named by his party as a member of the board at Radio y Televisión de Andalucía in 2002.^[2]

In June 2003, Torres Hurtado was elected mayor of Granada with an absolute majority, replacing José Moratella of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party.^[3] In 2015, to ensure a fourth successive term, he offered the opportunity of a coalition to the Citizens party. Their leader Luis Salvador declined the offer, but ordered his party to abstain in the investiture, thereby electing Torres Hurtado.^[4]

In April 2016, Torres Hurtado and his councillor in charge of city planning resigned after being implicated in a corruption scandal; he maintained his innocence.^[1] The case became known as Caso nazarí after the Nasrid dynasty that ruled the Emirate of Granada, and the trial began in 2020.^[5] In January 2021 the case was adjourned.^[6]

Torres Hurtado ordered the removal of five memorial plaques in Granada cemeteries that were dedicated to the 4,000 victims of Francoist White Terror, including some of his predecessors as mayor. He was additionally criticised for comparing his trial to an execution by firing squad.^[7] The plaques were reinstalled after he left office.^[8]

Notes and References

1. News: Dimiten el alcalde de Granada, José Torres Hurtado, y su concejal de Urbanismo. Mayor of Granada, José Torres Hurtado, and his councillor for city planning, resign. 9 March 2021 . . 18 April 2016 . Spanish.
2. News: El PP propone a Torres Hurtado como miembro del Consejo de RTVA. PP proposes Torres Hurtado as member of the board at RTVA . 9 March 2021 . . 5 December 2002 . Spanish.
3. News: Torres Hurtado promete gobernar con "austeridad". Torres Hurtado promises to govern with "austerity" . 9 March 2021 . El País . 15 June 2003 . Spanish.
4. News: Ramos . Ramón . Ciudadanos retira su veto a Torres Hurtado y facilitará su investidura. Citizens end their veto on Torres Hurtado and will ease his investiture. 6 March 2021 . El Mundo. 12 June 2015 . Spanish.
5. News: La jueza del ‘Caso Nazarí’ abre juicio oral contra Torres Hurtado por la pieza de Obispo Hurtado. The judge in the Caso Nazarí opens oral hearing against Torres Hurtado for the Obispo Hurtado charges. 9 March 2021 . Granada Digital . 24 September 2020 . Spanish.
6. News: Quero . Lola . La jueza del caso Nazarí esperará al Supremo para evitar la "pena de banquillo" de Torres Hurtado y otros acusados. The judge in the Caso Nazarí will wait for the Supreme Court in order to avoid "trial anxiety" for Torres Hurtado and the other accused. 9 March 2021 . Granada Hoy . 21 January 2021 . Spanish.
7. News: Verdad, Justicia y Reparación tacha de "vergonzoso" que Torres Hurtado hable de su "fusilamiento político en las tapias del cementerio" . Truth, Justice and Reparation brand Torres Hurtado "shameful" for speaking of his "political execution by firing squad against the walls of the cemetery". 9 March 2021 . El Independiente de Granada . 24 January 2017 . Spanish.
8. News: Rozalén . Josefa . Los 4.000 asesinados en Granada ya tienen nombre. The 4,000 people murdered in Granada now have names. 9 March 2021 . El Plural . 28 July 2017 . Spanish.