From Tragedy To Unity: Alhaurin Mayor On Why He Won’t Allow Politics To Divide His Town

Anthony Bermúdez Beltrón, the mayor of Alhaurin el Grande, is a combination of international roots, a lifelong dedication to education, and a commitment to grassroots local politics. As leader of the independent party 100% Alhaurín, he has steered the small town through challenging times while putting practical improvements first for its residents. The mayor sat with Euro Weekly News to talk about the tough times and the good.

Month of profound tragedy for Alhaurin

The end of 2025 and start of 2026 brought profound tragedy to the small town. A house fire on Christmas morning claimed the lives of two teenagers (15 and 16 years old). Days later, a flash flood killed two well-known and loved local men. Then, less than a month afterward, on January 24, British mother-of-three Victoria Hart, 33, was allegedly murdered by her ex-partner in her home, in front of her children – an act of gender-based violence that shocked the community and drew international attention.

“For a place as small as Alhaurin el Grande, it was full of a lot of pain and sadness,” Bermúdez Beltrón reflects. “What was particularly shocking about the death of Victoria, apart from the sadness of the other two tragedies, was that it was so incomprehensible. The others were terrible accidents, but Victoria’s death was murder. And in a village like this, there is no way to understand it. It was extremely difficult to deal with.” He highlights one silver lining: “It’s difficult to take away something positive from any of this, but the unity the people of Alhaurin el Grande showed – that was good.”

Who is Anthony Bermúdez Beltrón?

Born in France to a father from Alhaurin el Grande and a mother from Madrid, Bermúdez Beltrón spent his early years in a multicultural environment which would stand him in good stead. His parents had emigrated there, and he and his siblings were born there, giving him an early exposure to different cultures that shaped his sensitivity to diversity, a key element for a town like Alhaurin with so many expats.

He returned to Spain as an Erasmus student, studying between Université Lyon and the University of Seville. In 1997/1998, he decided to stay, pursuing a doctorate in history while beginning his teaching career.

When asked if he feels more French or Spanish, Bermúdez Beltrón is unequivocal: “There’s no debate in my family. We have always felt very Spanish but are very still thankful to France and the education I received there.”

A historian (graduated from Université Lyon II in 1998), he worked in secondary education from 2004 to 2023 as a teacher, vice-director, head of studies, and eventually director (headmaster) of IES Valle del Sol in nearby Álora. Today, he remains a history teacher in Alhaurin el Grande. “I’m a teacher by profession, and I’ll die as a teacher,” he says with a wry smile.

Distanced from politics of Madrid

His entry into politics began in 2005. Elected as a councillor in 2007, he later became the local leader of his group but grew frustrated with national party influences. “I didn’t want to be a puppet of the national party,” he explains. Sceptics doubted he could form an independent party, but he succeeded with 100% Alhaurin. From the outset, a core principle was clear: “No one would live off politics and no one would live for politics.”

He became mayor on June 17, 2023, bringing together a coalition government. In forming this alliance with other parties after the elections, he insisted everyone agree that it would be local priorities over national divisions. “In recent years, there has been some wear and tear on the national parties. And many independent, local parties have emerged. National politics can never influence local politics here. The people are tired of political conflicts.”

Bermúdez Beltrón observes a broader trend of declining voter engagement. Referencing low turnout in recent elections, including around 60 per cent in Castilla y León’s regional vote and even lower in France’s local ones. He says: “In Alhaurin el Grande, the turnout is still quite high. But in recent years, it is clear that the voting numbers are going down everywhere. It seems fewer people believe in politics these days.”

Moving forward

Looking ahead, the mayor acknowledges the constraints of a four-year term. “A four-year mandate is very short, because to do big things, they take time to get done, so you feel you are in a permanent electoral campaign, and that’s not good for anyone.” Progress requires funding, sometimes needing tough choices. Positively, the town’s finances have recently turned from red to black. “Now we’re in the position that things are going well. In 2026 and 2027 we are going to begin to see some good things happen,” he says, with residents set to vote again in May 2027.

Bermúdez Beltrón continues serving as a public educator and dedicated local leader and is enjoying a popularity among the people rare in today’s polarised political forum.