Badalona mayor goes on trial accused of unlawful misconduct

This Monday, the so-called "antennas case" begins in court, with Badalona mayor Xavier Garcia Albiol, of the conservative People's Party (PP), as the main defendant.

The case stems from Albiol’s first term as mayor (2011-2015), during which, as head of Urban Planning, he authorized the allegedly illegal installation of mobile phone antennas on the site of the city's local police headquarters.

Prosecutors accuse him of urban and environmental malfeasance and are seeking a sentence of nearly three years in prison, ten years of disqualification from office, and a €9,000 fine.

Albiol’s trial comes at a politically strong moment for him, following his landslide reelection in 2023, where his party secured 18 of 27 council seats.

However, a conviction could force his immediate removal from office, casting uncertainty over Badalona’s political leadership and the immediate future of the local administration.

Albiol told reporters outside the court on Monday morning that “all the facts, all the evidence, and what happened and what didn’t happen will be put on the table” in the trial.

The mayor appeared calm before entering the court, but did not want to assess the case “out of respect for the court.”

Accusations of illegal installation

The events date back to 2012, when Vodafone requested permission to install an antenna on public land. According to the prosecution, Albiol and senior officials approved the installation despite knowing the site was not legally zoned for such use.

Furthermore, no building permits, technical evaluations, or environmental licenses were issued. A second antenna, installed by Movistar later that year, also lacked authorization.

Both antennas were in operation for six years, until 2018.

Prosecutors request two years and ten months in prison, disqualification from public office for a decade, and fines of €9,000 each for Albiol and the officials involved, as well as demands that Vodafone and Movistar pay outstanding municipal taxes and electricity fees totaling over €25,000.

The trial will run for two weeks at Barcelona’s Provincial Court and will hear testimony from over 30 people, including police officers, municipal staff, and technical experts.