The High Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC) announced this Wednesday that it has expanded the investigation for alleged irregular awards in Altafulla to ERC deputy and former minister Joan Ignasi Elena and former Initiative leader Joan Herrera. The investigation, however, has several ramifications. At the Supreme Court, the former mayor of Altafulla and current Congressman for Comuns, Félix Alonso, is being investigated, and there is still a third prong in the hands of a court in El Vendrell: there, the investigating judge has already brought the former ICV minister during the tripartite government, Salvador Milà, to the brink of trial for prevarication, as reported by El País and confirmed by Efe. The decision is pending the appeal filed by Milà before the Provincial Court of Tarragona.

The residents of Altafulla have seen how the municipality's political life has become increasingly entangled for years, to the point of opening various legal proceedings. This town in the Tarragona region, with fewer than 6,000 inhabitants and more than 3,000 tourist beds in hotels and campsites, has witnessed a judicial investigation—now closed—into councilors allegedly harassing the mayor on social media, and accusations from the opposition that the council used public funds. All this in a city where Alternativa Altafulla—linked to Comuns—and Junts successfully passed a motion of no confidence against ERC during the previous term, which in 2023 regained the mayor's office in coalition with Junts. For several months now, the Republicans have governed alone, but one councilor expelled from the Junts municipal group has remained in government and now faces a bribery complaint from his former colleagues.

It's often said that a good wine list presupposes a very good culinary selection. At La Lleona Salada restaurant in Altafulla, this proves true. "The initial idea was to open a wine bar with cold cuisine, but we were really afraid because we didn't see the south as ready," says sommelier Helena Boronat, one of the four partners. After realizing it was risky to dedicate themselves solely to wine, they decided on the restaurant on a quiet street, marked by beautiful architecture and bougainvillea. They opened in May. "The idea is very clear. We have vibrant and energetic wines that don't leave you indifferent. We like wine to awaken things in those who drink it; that's what we strive for and what motivates us," she summarizes. With her brother Cesc, they also make wine at the Cerra els Ulls winery in Nulles. Clearly, the list breathes the spirit of their wines and is an increasingly diverse star of wines from worthy friends, such as our neighbors at Celler 9+ or Sicus. "We wanted a short, liquid list, but I feel more comfortable as I incorporate more wines, even though it can sometimes be difficult to introduce them. Customers almost always accept advice. They don't know many of the wines we suggest, because in Tarragona the public is rather classic. Therefore, we do an educational job that we regretfully don't do. It's visible," she explains. Most of the wines on the list are Catalan and from the Tarragona region, but there's no shortage of wines from small Italian and French producers. "We want short-production wines with people behind them," Boronat clarifies. He dares to say that "if the restaurant were a wine, it would be Cambuix by Mallorcan winemaker Cati Ribot: a red wine from the viper and the alley. This sums up the spirit of the menu: native varieties and a great deal of craftsmanship in its production."