The Legal Council prevents Miguel Martínez from being president of the Cartagena Chamber of Commerce for the third time

The Legal Council of the Region of Murcia ruled this Friday that the current acting president of the Cartagena Chamber of Commerce, Miguel Martínez, cannot be elected for the third consecutive time in office, as established by the regional law of Chambers, of 2015. In its articles 16.2 it dictates that the president of these organizations “will be elected by the Plenary from among its members in the manner determined by the internal regulations of each chamber, and the same person may not exceed more than two mandates” .

The legal opinion resolves that “the mandate as president of the chamber must be computed, which, initiated prior to the entry into force of the Law, is prolonged and consumed during the validity of the same”

Miguel Martínez ran for the first time in the chamber elections in 2010. This legislature lasted until 2018, the year in which he ran again. He then he was chosen. His mandate ended this year, so the electoral process began in March, to which he presented himself again to hold the position of president again and for the third time. His candidacy was the only one.

Given the legal doubts, the general secretary of the Chamber, Ramiro Alonso, raised on March 25 – the last day for the presentation of candidacies – to the Electoral Board, chaired by the general director of Commerce, Miguel Ángel Martín, a consultation on various aspects of the process, including the third re-election. He did it well in advance so that the doubt would have been resolved and not interfere with the deadlines.

But the very body in charge of resolving doubts and interpreting the electoral regulations, given the complexity of the matter, decided to resort to the legal services of the Community and cautiously postpone the re-election, which was to be made official on May 13. Martínez reappeared, explained to LA VERDAD then, understanding that the law could not be applied retroactively.