The extraordinary session last Thursday in Hinojosa del Duque, province of Córdoba, will be remembered for a barrage of verbal disqualifications among council members, overshadowing the approval of municipal accounts. What began as a technical discussion on the General Budget for 2026 degenerated into verbal chaos, revealing an alarming lack of institutional respect.
Tension flared when the spokesperson for the Popular Party, José Fernández, questioned treasury reserves and the condition of the streets. His comments towards Antonia Ramírez, head of Finance and Economy, led Mayor Matías González to interrupt, denouncing alleged disrespect and "laughter" from the opposition councilors. Claims about the "education" of the PP councilors further heightened the tone.
The mayor proceeded to repeatedly call an opposition councilor "Mr. Laughs" or "Mr. Little Laughs." Subsequently, he used the term "Mr. Laugh-scoundrel" and called a member of the corporation a "scoundrel," stating he was "good for nothing but laughing."
The opposition's response was immediate, escalating the confrontation. Amidst the noise in the hall, insults were hurled at the mayor, including "Mr. Pimp." The atmosphere became so hostile that participants themselves admitted to projecting a "very bad image to the public" on such a serious matter as the budget.
The confrontation included personal allusions to upbringing and values. While the mayor insisted on the opposition's "poor manners," the PP countered that the "president of the plenary" lacked them. The spokesperson for Izquierda Unida, Santiago Aranda, described the incident as an "absolutely lamentable spectacle."
Towards the end of the session, PP councilor Santos apologized publicly to citizens and the mayor for the insults, admitting to "losing his temper." Mayor Matías González, for his part, stated he would not remove his words from the minutes, maintaining his use of the "Mr. Little Laughs" appellation.
The municipal secretary concluded the interventions by warning that the situation was "completely out of place" and that, if such behavior recurred, the session would be immediately adjourned.
