The Autonomous Local Entities (ELAS) of Montecorto and Serrato are hoping to become the 102nd and 103rd municipalities in the province of Málaga after Ronda Council unanimously approved a motion to file a request for their complete and final independence.
Ronda Council and the authorities in the two towns can now apply to the Ministry of Interior of the Junta de Andalucia for approval.
The new Law of Local Autonomy in Andalucia deletes the minimum population requirement for obtaining the status of municipality, which previously stood at 2,500 inhabitants. This was the major obstacle to earlier attempts at independence.
Both Serrato and Montecorto have held referendums on the subject, with the overwhelming majority voting in favour of this course of action.
The two small towns – Montecorto has a population of 670, Serrato has 600 – have been given more and more devolved powers over the years and independence is the logical next step. Their distance from Ronda – Montecorto is 30 km and Serrato is 20 km from Ronda – has often been quoted as one of the reasons why they should be fully independent.
Serrato was, in fact, an independent municipality back in 1800.
Independence would mean that the two towns would be able to carry out their own projects rather than having to constantly seek approval from Ronda as is currently the case. On the question of population, they point out that neighbouring Atajate, an independent municipality, only has 180 residents.