A formal stance emerged this week from Alicante’s leading business and economic groups, represented by Salvador Navarro, president of the Valencian Business Confederation (CEV) and CEV Alicante, along with Joaquín Pérez, the head of the Alicante Chamber, and Carlos Baño, the president of the Institute for Economic Research of the Province of Alicante (Ineca). They spoke at a press conference held at the CEOE headquarters in Madrid to denounce the perceived neglect by the central government in budgeting for the Alicante region. The representatives called for immediate corrections to the budget calculations and criticized the limited influence of the province in Congress given its population and economic weight. They urged the federal and national authorities to address these disparities with a clear plan that reflects Alicante’s needs and potential. The collective appeal was directed at ensuring fair treatment in state allocations and investment commitments.
CEV, CEV Alicante and Ineca took their concerns to Madrid, noting that the general budgets for Alicante once again lag behind in investments. The regional plans show a substantial reduction in anticipated projects year after year. The latest budgets submitted by the central government allocate only 160.3 million euros for Alicante, down from 182.65 million in 2022 and 298.7 million in 2021. By contrast, the province has grown as one of Spain’s faster expanding populations since 2020 and stands among the top contributors to provincial GDP.
During the presentation, it was highlighted that last year’s per capita investment in Alicante was 85.48 euros, far below the national average of 283.72 euros. The organizations emphasized that despite the presence of large budgets and substantial regional investments elsewhere, Alicante faced a meaningful cut of 12.3 percent compared to the previous year. This issue compounds over time, as the national record shows a widening gap in government investment in relation to population, a trend the speakers warned could undermine long-term growth prospects for the region.
The three business groups united in urging political parties to commit to reversing these trends. They described the deficits as a risk to socio-economic development and called for sustained action to protect public services, bolster job competitiveness, safeguard employment, and maintain social welfare for residents of the province.
Chamber leader Carlos Baño noted that the province’s twelve deputies carry less influence than other regions with more deputies, such as the Basque Country, underscoring the need for proportional consideration in investment relative to regional weight. He insisted that this issue is not political theater but a request from citizens who deserve effective representation and timely corrective measures to end a two-decade pattern of marginalization. The call was for lawmakers to take concrete steps that address chronic underfunding.
Navarro of CEV agreed with Baño’s concerns and described the ongoing neglect in central investments and the broader underfunding experienced by the Valencian Community. He stressed that local business leaders recognize their share of responsibility and are actively seeking unity across sectors to press for change. A platform is being formed with broad support from trade unions and diverse regional political groups to coordinate efforts and amplify the call for action.
Joaquín Pérez, chair of CEV Alicante, indicated that discussions are underway with unions to participate in planned meetings at the offices of the 27th Government Sub-Delegation in Alicante. Political representatives and associated groups are expected to join. He warned that this year may offer only partial fixes if action remains fragmented, but he stressed the importance of joint, decisive work now to prevent recurring marginalization in future budgets.
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