Spanish City Fines Tangier $400,000, Threatens to Seize Historic Palace

The Moroccan city has already accumulated a total of nine unpaid fines worth a total of 383,825.47 euros for not taking care of the maintenance or rehabilitation of the Álava-Esquível palace and paying certain taxes. The Vitoria city council will soon pronounce the tenth fine against Tangier and initiate the expropriation procedure of the building, reports El Correo.

"We will have to assess whether to opt for the path of expropriation or an agreement with Tangier. I prefer the second option, because expropriation should be the last option," the urban planning councilor, Borja Rodríguez (PSE), said last spring. Municipal councilor Óscar Fernández (Elkarrekin Podemos) calls for greater firmness in the expropriation process, calling for action as soon as the tenth fine is notified to the city of Tangier.

"It’s not that we want an expropriation for the pleasure of it. We have a palace that is deteriorating, awaiting an agreement with an owner who has shown no interest over the past 13 years," added the opposition councilor.

The Álava-Esquível palace has been the property of Tangier for more than a century. A descendant of General Álava, Ricardo de Álava y Carrión, lost ownership after betting at poker. The palace thus ended up in the hands of Ignacio de Figueroa y Bermejillo, Duke of Tovar who, wounded, was treated in Tangier. As a sign of gratitude, he donated all his property to the Moroccan city. Currently, 10 of the 16 apartments in the building are rented out.