Political rhetoric is rarely dull, especially in the (long) run-up to an election, and the local parties have once again been sparring.
The opposition PSOE complained about the Mayor claiming around €12,000 per year for attending provincial collegiate bodies, such as carrying out his duties as part of the opposition at the Málaga Provincial level, this being on top of his €42,000 salary as head of the government in Nerja.
This, they said, went against the austerity required during this time of financial crisis, especially as the leaders of the PSOE and IU had renounced their payments for attending such collegiate meetings.
ThePP Councillor José Alberto Tomé responded by saying that it was easy for the opposition to give up what they never had, pointing out that the leader of the PSOE, Ángel Ramírez, did not attend a single collegiate meeting in 2010 and that the leader of the IU, Raúl Jiménez, has not attended a single meeting since renouncing his claim to the allowance.
The Mayor, José Alberto Armijo, added that as far as payment for his duties at municipal and provincial levels are concerned, his remuneration is purely that which is laid down by law.
Why politicians, and this applies in many countries, should receive a (high) salary and be paid extra when they attend meetings, especially during normal working hours, and, in most cases, get generous expenses, remains a mystery.
Being a politician is one of the few, if only jobs, that is recession-proof, crisis-proof, inflation-proof and just about everything else-proof.