Torrox Council is carrying out a two month campaign to try and persuade a believed large number of foreign residents to register on the local census, thereby achieving the beneficial target of 20,000 inhabitants.
For the Council, achieving the ‘magical’ figure of 20,000 registered inhabitants bring more regional and state funding and local control over such things as Social Welfare and Civil Protection. It also means an increase in the number of Councillors, from 17 to 21, but you can’t win them all.
For the foreigners who register, eligibility to vote in local elections and the right to apply for social housing are just two of the benefits.
Torrox currently has 7,000 foreigners registered on the census, 41% of the population of the municipality, but it is widely thought that the true total number of foreigners is over 15,000.
The campaign includes the distribution of 6,500 posters and leaflets in three languages.