Por Redaccion 
PUERTOLLANO (CIUDAD REAL), 26 (EUROPA PRESS)
The councillors of the Socialist Municipal Group in the City Council of Puertollano (Ciudad Real) Casto Sánchez Gijón, Zeyd Hijazi Quiles, and Estefanía Sanz Ávila have formalized their resignations as councillors in a plenary session this Thursday, bidding farewell in an atmosphere of intense emotion and denying that their departure is due to an organic crisis within the group.
Rather, they have justified their departure, depending on the cases, on personal circumstances, the proximity to retirement, or a natural process of evolution and renewal to address the challenges of the party and the citizens of Puertollano.
In their farewell speeches, Estefanía Sanz has justified her departure due to strictly work-related reasons, which will literally prevent her from attending plenary sessions. Thus, she wished her fellow councillors good luck and a «quiet term, as far as possible.»
On his part, Zeyd Hijazi, visibly emotional, has cited strictly family-related issues. For the former councillor, it has been an «honour and a pride» to represent the citizens in a position with such responsibility, although he acknowledged that life situations sometimes require «establishing priorities,» as in his case, following a family loss that has caused changes leading him to be closer to his loved ones.
Hijazi believes he has carried out his work with «coherence, consistency, and common sense,» and although he believes he has tried his best and his interventions have garnered plenary consensus, he has apologized for any misunderstandings that may have arisen from his actions.
In any case, the jurist has denied that his departure is a result of any «organic rupture» or «crisis» within the local socialist group. «Simply put, there have been individuals who, for personal reasons, have had to leave, without this being part of any political strategy,» he emphasized.
Meanwhile, Casto Sánchez, a historic figure in socialist Puertollano, has stated that the work he has had the opportunity to carry out in these two years has been one of the most «enriching» experiences in his long political and personal career, but he feels that the «mandatory retirement age» is calling him and believes that the time to «cross a Rubicon» is near, in a context of «organic changes.»
Nevertheless, Casto Sánchez regretted that he has been little known in the municipal sphere, and under a perspective that has not been typical of his political and personal trajectory. «My closest friends said they did not recognize me in this more aggressive role, and my own family sometimes confronted me asking what I was doing, that it wasn’t like me,» he confessed. Thus, he contrasted this perception with his education and life philosophy, which starts from reading the classics to lead to the political spectrum of social democracy, «currently in crisis.»
«Today, more than ever, I believe it is urgent to reclaim politics as a space for dialogue, and not as a field of confrontation where defeating or crushing the other is all that matters, at any cost,» he concluded.
On a local level, Casto Sánchez believes that the politicians of Puertollano have achieved a consensus: «that we all take on the most fundamental challenges of the city, the challenge of employment, retaining young talent, ensuring the industrial future by betting on technological innovation and transitioning to new energy models.» «Let’s collaborate to achieve these objectives,» he emphasized.
«I leave with a clear conscience, knowing that I have given all I could, I have lived in politics and not off politics, but I also want to express that I am not the one carrying the baggage of the mistakes of previous socialist governments, of which I have never been a part and with which I have been very critical,» he emphasized, while inviting everyone to explore «the legacy of the good things that have been done in the 40 years of socialist governments.»
AFFECTIONATE AND EMOTIONAL FAREWELL
All municipal spokespersons bid a fond farewell to the resigning councillors, highlighting the interventions of the new municipal socialist spokesperson, Manuel Sánchez, and the Mayor of Puertollano, Miguel Ángel Ruiz, both visibly moved. Manuel Sánchez thanked his colleagues for «being at the forefront from the beginning, despite personal and family problems.» The Mayor Miguel Ángel Ruiz expressed similar sentiments, acknowledging the professional and political worth of these individuals, as well as their «dedication and effort for Puertollano, regardless of political stances.»
The plenary session approved the proposal for the issuance of credentials for the following elected councillors to the Central Electoral Board. These are Pilar Avilero, Francisco José García, and Carlos Cañizares.
On another note, the Plenary, with the votes in favour of the municipal groups of the PP and Vox, definitively approved the modification of the municipal ordinance regulating terraces and auxiliary elements in public use areas, once the objections presented by the AVAR collective and a resident have been dismissed.
It also approved the recognition of various invoices corresponding to the legal defense of the City Council by lawyer Luis Sánchez Serrano from 2011 to 2022 for an amount of 275,000 euros, and payments of invoices from 2019 and 2021 to the General Society of Authors for various events, totaling 78,499.52 euros. These amounts will be financed with respective credit modifications, totaling 353,000 euros.
Finally, the Plenary designated May 21, the feast of the Holy Vote, and September 8, the day of the Virgin of Grace, as local holidays in 2026.