Doctor, professor of Cell Biology, former rector of the University of Murcia, former councilor of the regional Government and mayor of the Murcian capital in two stages, Ballesta was one of the most relevant figures in Murcian public life in recent decades.
José Ballesta, Mayor of Murcia, Dies
The mayor of Murcia, José Ballesta Germán, has passed away this Sunday at the age of 67. The City Council has reported his death and has conveyed the municipal corporation's "deep sorrow" for the loss of its mayor, whom they have defined as a person marked by an "exemplary vocation for public service" and a "permanent dedication to Murcia and the people of Murcia".
The council will decree three days of official mourning. During that period, institutional events will be suspended and flags will fly at half-mast, according to information published after the municipal communication.
The news has caused a strong impact in the Region of Murcia, where Ballesta was one of the most recognizable political figures. He governed the Murcian capital with an absolute majority since the municipal elections of 2023, after having also been mayor between 2015 and 2021.
A life linked to Murcia
José Ballesta was mayor, but also an academic, doctor, and public administrator. Doctor of Medicine and professor of Cell Biology, he held the rectorship of the University of Murcia between 1998 and 2006 before making the leap to the regional institutional frontline.
Subsequently, he was a deputy, counselor, and spokesperson for the regional government, until he consolidated himself as one of the main leaders of the PP of Murcia. His arrival at the Mayor's Office of Murcia in 2015 opened a stage marked by large urban projects, recovery of public spaces, and a strong institutional presence in the cultural and social life of the city.
The City Council has highlighted that Ballesta understood Murcia as a “collective work” built from respect for its roots, the recovery of heritage, the defense of local identity, and future ambition.
Mayor in two stages
Ballesta was mayor of Murcia between 2015 and 2021. That year he lost the mayoralty after a motion of no confidence promoted by PSOE, Ciudadanos and Podemos, which temporarily removed him from municipal power.
Two years later, in the municipal elections of May 2023, he regained the Mayoralty with an absolute majority. That return reinforced his figure within the Murcian PP and allowed him to resume some of the urban and heritage projects that had marked his first term.
Among the actions linked to his management are projects such as the pedestrianization of Alfonso X El Sabio avenue, actions in the environment of the Segura river and the rehabilitation of the old Cárcel Vieja as a cultural space.
A disease carried with discretion
Ballesta had been suffering from cancer for approximately two years, according to information published after his death. The mayor, however, maintained intense public activity during a large part of that period and bore the illness with discretion.
His last public appearance was on April 30, during the monthly plenary session of the Murcia City Council. According to El País, Ballesta attended visibly weakened, accompanied by members of his team, presided over the session for about two hours and then left the plenary hall.
Until just a few days before his death, the mayor maintained an institutional presence in municipal life, a circumstance that has been highlighted by various regional media outlets when recalling his career.
The City Council highlights its "commitment to its neighbors"
In its statement, the Murcia City Council stated that the city loses not only its mayor, but also a person who dedicated his life to public service, constant work, and commitment to his neighbors.
The council has indicated that in the coming hours the instructions relating to the protocol, official mourning, the institutional agenda, and the funeral honors will be transferred. It has also indicated that the City Council will continue to act with institutional normality and coordination of all municipal services.
A central figure in Murcian politics
The death of José Ballesta closes an extensive public career, with a presence in the university, the regional Government, and the Murcia City Council. His profile combined a very marked academic dimension with a long-standing political career.
For his supporters, his legacy remains associated with the urban transformation of Murcia, the defense of local identity, and the recovery of symbolic spaces. For his adversaries, he was a leader with a strong political profile and a central figure in the municipal and regional power of the PP.
Beyond the political assessment, his death opens a period of institutional mourning in Murcia and forces the succession to the Mayor's office to be ordered in the coming days.