Mataró seeks legal action over Extremadura's paid relocation of squatters

The Mataró City Council is preparing to file a complaint with the Prosecutor’s Office, alleging that Baños de Montemayor misused public funds by paying for the taxi and hotel accommodation of a family of squatters. The dispute centers on a conflict in the Extremaduran town where a couple and their two children refused to leave tourist apartments after their seven-day stay expired, sparking neighborhood protests.

The Dispute

Baños de Montemayor’s mayor, Nieves del Vado (PP), authorized the transfer to resolve the standoff. She claims the squatters chose Mataró due to alleged relatives there and that the cost was covered by municipal contingency funds. However, Mataró’s Mayor David Bote (PSC) argues the move was illegal because:

• The family was not registered in Mataró but in another Catalan municipality.
• There was no prior coordination with Mataró’s social services or city council.
• The decision bypassed standard legal assistance protocols.

Bote contends this constitutes potential embezzlement of public funds and an “insolidary” act between municipalities. He has requested the Prosecutor’s Office determine if irregularities occurred in the spending and if Del Vado breached her legal duties as mayor.

Conflicting Narratives

While Del Vado defends the action as necessary to restore peace and recover the property, she declined further comment after Mataró announced legal intentions. Mataró officials emphasize that transferring the problem without assessing local resources violates administrative cooperation norms. The family’s current whereabouts remain unknown to Mataró authorities, complicating any follow-up assessment.

Source: La Vanguardia details the legal strategy, while Source: Infobae outlines the timeline of the squatting incident and the financial justification provided by the Extremaduran administration.