THE far-right party Vox has called for tighter controls on padron registrations — Spain’s official municipal population register —in a Torrox.
The move follows concerns over the alleged abuse of public services in the eastern Costa del Sol town.
A Vox councillor in the town, Fernando Jimenez, said the party wants the town hall to carry out stricter checks on who is officially registered as living in the municipality.
Jimenez argued that irregular registrations place pressure on local resources.
The move comes in one of southern Spain’s most international towns, which is popular with both British and German expatriates.
In the town, official population figures directly affect funding levels and the provision of local services.
Jimenez claimed there is growing concern over people registering at addresses where they do not actually live.
The councillor also alleged that some people use fictitious addresses and overcrowded properties for administrative purposes.
“The padron is not a mere administrative procedure,” Jimenez said.
“It determines access to services and benefits financed by everyone’s efforts, so its correct management is a matter of institutional responsibility and justice for the residents of Torrox.”
According to Vox, inaccurate census figures can distort the planning of municipal services.
The party claims this unfairly increases demand on healthcare, waste collection and other publicly funded resources.
“Defending the rule of law is not about excluding anyone; it’s about ensuring that the rules are applied equally to everyone,” Jimenez added.
“A reliable census is the foundation of fair and efficient municipal management.”
The proposal calls on the town hall to introduce stricter verification mechanisms.
These would ensure that those listed on the Municipal Register of Inhabitants genuinely reside in the town.
Jimenez insisted the measure was not ideological, but rather aimed at protecting the “general interest.”
He said it would help the town match public services to its real population.
“When the census does not reflect reality, services become overwhelmed and those who suffer are the residents who comply,” he said.
“That is why it is essential to act with rigor and responsibility.”
The debate over padron registrations has become increasingly contentious in parts of the Costa del Sol.
Large foreign populations and seasonal residents can often complicate official population counts in the region.
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