“If the budget is not there yet, it is because we are negotiating with the opposition.”

At what stage is the budget preparation?

There are political groups that chose another transit after receiving the draft and being invited to contribute their proposals. We are finalizing the document because we received contributions from political groups this week. What is unexpected is that when a government with an absolute majority comes up with a proposal to discuss their budget, the deadline will be extended without any contribution. Finally, we will analyze all the recommendations and the budget will be presented to the general assembly meeting.

Opposition spokesmen blame you for not offering them dialogue, right?

I didn’t just propose dialogue. So I agreed, shook hands, and then they voted against it. But no one will say a bad word from me. I didn’t come here to confront you. Everyone is free to speak whatever they want. I am pleased with the road map I have drawn and the efforts this government has made to ensure that all voices in the Provincial Council are heard.

So we passed January 20th and the budget is still not approved…

It was difficult before the end of the year, we said it then too. At the moment there are municipal councils and provincial councils that still do not know how the spending rules should be applied, regarding residuals, sustainability and fiscal balances.

Doesn’t the Provincial Council have a budget because of the government?

I didn’t say that.

I ask him.

Today, we do not have a budget because we are in the negotiation phase with the opposition. I spared it if you like, because we didn’t have it before and we don’t have it now. We covered a significant part of January. As a profession and will, we understood that absolute majority does not mean rejecting dialogue. If you open it, you cannot rate or evaluate it for the last time. Each group knows what they are conveying and at what point we intervene with them.

Are you saying that the delay was due to the lack of response from opposition groups?

Yes, they answer, but we are talking about a very important document that contains a lot of analysis. Our desire for dialogue is so great that we look at each proposal carefully and go into detail. There are groups that have known what our offer was for weeks because I told them and they have been negotiating with the vice president. We need to ask them what they are telling the people of Alicante through the media.

But the reality is that you govern with a simple majority in the County Council and you have no budget until the end of the year. On the other hand, such a situation did not occur in the previous period when the government was governed by a coalition.

We understand the absolute majority from the dialogue. If I were in opposition and in a hurry, I would send my proposals in September or October. What difference does it make if the government has a budget if they expect us to hand them the draft? There are groups that have decided to present their proposals and the dialogue continues to outline their projects. Other groups, despite having sufficient size and comprehensive information to translate their measures, decided on another strategy.

Is there a date for the general assembly meeting where the budget will be presented?

On February 7. We were not able to receive all documents from other groups by this Thursday and are committed to holding plenary sessions on the first Wednesday of each month.

PSPV and Commitments They condemn the paralysis of the Provincial Assembly. This is true?

In any case, this is not true. There is a general problem for the administrations and some groups that have no political flag left and they have to discuss something. We are making progress on very important issues such as the budget. I don’t want to think of any group delaying their contributions or increasing their contributions in a way that exposes what they are responsible for. On the day I presented the draft, I could have called a meeting of the Finance Commission and the general assembly with a simple majority. If I haven’t, it’s because I don’t want to talk.

Based on your experience these months, can being mayor of Benidorm be combined with chairing the County Council?

Yes, I carry it normally by fulfilling my responsibilities. The volume of work is proportional to the effort and ability to solve it. Benidorm is a city with a lot of work, and I live in an area where there is a significant diversity of governments of political colour, and Benidorm has always stood out for its leadership capacity.

The Provincial Council, headed by Mazón, had a very combative character on issues such as water or the Cooperation Fund. Do you continue with this attitude?

Mazón and I are very similar when it comes to political participation. Another thing is the level of aggression that the institution always receives. I do not make this claim before the Generalitat or the Government. There is harmony in projects that previously created conflict. No one should think that this is a political color issue. The problem was that the door was closed before we knocked. I met with Mazón three or four times this week. We now have an ally who was previously in the profile.

We are talking about Mazón and one of the most symbolic initiatives taken over in this role. What is the status of the Alicante Congress Palace construction project?

136 proposals were received for the projects examined by the jury. It should be left to the technicians to choose the best projects to undertake their implementation. Selection, bidding and execution.

In August 2023, the Provincial Council said that the first results would be announced in November, what is the reason for this delay?

Because there are 136 projects, too many. Fortunately, there are some pretty good quality ones out there, and it’s not a decision to take lightly. There are some administrative deadlines and other deadlines that common sense precludes. We will not interfere with the duty of a qualified jury.

So the reason for the delay is that initial expectations were exceeded…

Yes, and the complexity of it all. We are committed to managing a political commitment within the framework of legislation. The president of the County Council putting pressure on the jury is not something that would look good. The decision should be made when deemed appropriate. We will continue talking from there.

«Being in Fitur is compatible with the digitalization of tourism”

Toni Pérez analyzes the situation of the sector at the gate of the new edition of the tourism fair and firmly demands the construction of a second runway for the airport

What projects have led Fitur since then? Alicante Provincial Council?

As the Provincial Council, our duty is to accompany all tourism products, both private and corporate, within the scope of the Costa Blanca brand. This year we have 33 municipalities with brands such as Benidorm or Alicante. There are very defined axes such as accessibility, sustainability and innovation. The big brand of Costa Blanca should go there.

Is there still a need for such fairs in an increasingly digital world?

They are compatible, necessary and complementary aspects. On the one hand, there is the promotion, agenda and studies that you develop according to your profession and capacity throughout the year, and on the other hand, there is taking part in fairs such as Fitur or the World Trade Market in London. One issue is dividing the promotion into segments because technology allows reaching the end customer with a good campaign, another is the agenda of each destination, and another is the communication required in certain venues such as Fitur.

Too much ostentation in Fitur?

I definitely don’t share it. Maybe there are people who go to Fitur for this reason. But brands and destinations will work hard. Why do they go to agri-food fairs or technology fairs? Those who sell products go, become references and offer interesting things. Tourism is the same. The Provincial Council also knows that there are companies and private sector in Fitur that should be on its side as an institution. When we board the plane of a company with nine new connections, we will of course think that it was designed for this purpose, not that it was produced for a tourism fair.

The business volume created by tourism in the province has already exceeded 10 million. What does this data tell you?

Tourism does not move. Unlike other productive sectors, it is celebrated and developed where there is interesting activity. We are in a highly competitive world where globalization has led many countries to look to the power of tourism as a means of redistributing wealth and creating opportunity.

The airport is approaching 16 million passengers annually and the second runway has not yet been built. Are you worried?

Air traffic coming from our airport means a huge injection into the State coffers. You have to pay attention to what works, not just your own services. We would need to have a second runway that would allow us to meet the huge demand for connections. After all, they are passengers. If you don’t, there is a tourism activity behind it that will direct you to an airport that provides connection capacity. You must understand this deeply. When you’re not the right size at the right moment, it’s very difficult to get over it later. You will have to make the investment because you will have no other option. However, it is better to do this from a position of leadership and consolidated growth rather than when there is an urgent need.

Is there consensus on the train connection?

There is no consensus except who should authorize and fund it. They have the ability to own up when they cannot manage, to deny the obvious. There are very important destinations with excellent nodes, rail connections and sometimes metro connections. Also well-connected road network infrastructures where there is no stress on circulation. There can be no destinations where arriving by air takes less time than landing.

Do you think a direct air connection between Alicante and the United States is possible?

It’s feasible, it’s desirable, and we’re working on it. It’s a great market, it interests us and opens doors to opportunities. There are a lot of Americans coming to Costa Blanca. It is a connection that can fit perfectly, he is right. It will represent an important pioneer at the commercial, industrial and relations level. It will allow us to open a new window to the transoceanic world.

What is your position on tourist accommodation? Should there be more regulation?

It is undeniable that tourist residences have been one of our strengths as a region since we started investing in tourism. Conditions are confused. Tourist accommodation does not cause problems. Whoever invades does so. We are very pleased that our second residence serves to accommodate family and friends. Perhaps we confuse this with regulated tourist housing that contributes to the public good and pays taxes.

How do you evaluate the impact of this on the increase in house prices?

Public housing is what needs to be done, because we want to cover up the fact that we have had eight years with an autonomous government building zero publicly advertised housing. There are those who do nothing and blame others. We all need to contribute. What are we to blame in a place where there is no tourism and housing prices are high?