The PP mayor close to Pérez Llorca who lived through the World Cup: privilege in the Covid vaccination, ties with the Gürtel and a large municipal debt

A Valencia-based councilor from the People's Party (PP), close ally of President Juanfran Pérez Llorca, traveled with the Spanish Football Federation’s chartered flight to the U.S. for the FIFA World Cup and attended both the semifinals and the final. The alderman, Bernabé Cano, who serves as mayor of La Nucía and is a provincial deputy in Alicante, was seated just a few rows away from Pérez Llorca during the final match at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Both officials belong to the same regional branch of the PP, the Marina Baixa, which holds significant influence within the Valencian Community’s governing party. Cano spent a week in the United States, traveling from Dallas to New York aboard the federation’s private jet, which carries the families of players, club presidents, and territorial federation leaders. He confirmed his journey in an interview with Onda Cero, stating he arrived in Dallas with the same group that later took him to the final. During his time in the city, Cano photographed himself with Argentine forward Lautaro Fernández after Argentina advanced to the final. He also met with several former players including Fernando Llorente, Pepe Reina, Fernando Hierro, and Iker Casillas at the ‘Casa España,’ a space set up for institutions and fans in Dallas. The relationship between Cano and Pérez Llorca extends beyond political alliances. They share a common region and have worked together on local and regional initiatives. Cano, a physician by profession, previously served as a medical officer for the Valencian Football Federation, conducting health checks on athletes. This professional connection has deepened over the years into a personal one, according to Cano, who described their bond as strong and long-standing. Cano’s family accompanied him on the trip, as shown in social media posts. The total cost of the tickets for the final ranged between €4,000 and €8,000, while semifinal passes were approximately €3,000. However, the exact financial arrangements remain unclear. The alderman’s office has yet to provide details on whether he covered the costs of the tickets and those of his companions, nor has it explained why he chose the federation’s chartered flight instead of commercial options. In addition to his political role, Cano has been actively involved in promoting sports in La Nucía. His municipality hosts youth tournaments and training sessions for the national under-15, under-16, and under-19 teams at the Estadio Camilo Cano, named after the town’s first democratic mayor and father of the current mayor and the regional minister of Innovation. Cano has held this position since 2001, securing absolute majorities each time, and has also served as head of sports in the Provincial Council of Alicante since 2007, with brief interruptions in that role. His past has included scrutiny, though none resulted in charges. In 2020, he was investigated for allegedly using his position as a doctor for the federation to receive a free vaccine during the pandemic. The case was eventually dismissed, with the council asserting that his work was voluntary. Despite these past issues, Cano continues to maintain a prominent presence in local and regional politics, leveraging both his professional expertise and personal connections to support his political ambitions.