Rebeca Pérez confirmed as Murcia's first female mayor in historic appointment

She succeeds José Ballesta, following his death earlier this month, after already serving as acting mayor in recent weeks

Rebeca Pérez has become the first woman in history to serve as mayor of Murcia City, officially taking up the role with full powers after being confirmed by the city council today May 22.

She succeeds José Ballesta, who sadly passed away on May 10, after serving as acting mayor in the weeks since his passing. With this appointment, Pérez, who also made history as Murcia's first-ever female deputy mayor, now becomes the first woman to hold the city’s top political office.

Her appointment was backed by the Partido Popular (PP), which holds an absolute majority in the current council term. All PP councillors supported her during the vote, securing her position without opposition from within the governing group.

As part of the same council session, Pedro Luis Balibrea, director at the technology consultancy Inforges, officially joined the chamber. He takes up the seat left vacant following Ballesta's death, entering as the next name on the PP's electoral list from the last municipal elections.

Pérez now has around a year in office before the next local elections in 2027. During that time, she is expected to continue with the main projects launched under Ballesta, while also establishing her own leadership style ahead of the next electoral cycle.

A possible reshuffle of responsibilities within the council is also expected in the coming weeks, as the new mayor settles fully into the role and the updated team structure is put in place.

Images: Murcia City Hall