Almería’s culture councillor resigns after drink-driving away from the city’s own fair in an official car

Almería's culture councillor, Diego Cruz, resigned after being caught drink-driving outside the city's own fair while driving an official car. The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday August 24, 2023, when National Police officers pulled over Cruz near a security checkpoint of the Feria de Almería. Officers noticed unusual behavior and conducted a breath test that returned a reading of over 0.75 milligrammes of alcohol per litre of breath, exceeding the legal limit.

Drinking and driving in Spain is considered a criminal offense when the reading exceeds 0.60 mg/l, potentially leading to driving bans, community service, or even prison sentences. Cruz, who held the culture portfolio on Almería's city council, led by mayor María del Mar Vázquez of the Partido Popular (PP), resigned immediately following the news, sparing the administration from a difficult decision.

The criminal case against Cruz is still ongoing in the courts. The situation drew criticism from local councillors, as Cruz's position as a culture councillor highlighted the irony of his arrest during the Feria de Almería, an event he had been involved in organizing and managing.