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The election night brought a startling twist to Alcosser. Neighbors and party observers alike watched as a slate of outsiders carried the day, a list formed entirely by PP loyalists from beyond the town limits. These so‑called paratroopers, as locals nicknamed them, now form the backbone of the city council because the money is there and the power follows.
What began as a routine process quickly revealed how hard it can be for small towns to recruit candidates. Major parties often struggle to find volunteers from within the community, and so, to cover the broader region, they sometimes present lists of nonresidents. It is partly about prestige and partly about offering voters a broader choice.
That was the situation in the last Alcosser elections, a tiny municipality with just over 250 residents in the El Comtat area. PSOE discovered none of its neighbors were willing to stand, and so it submitted a list of four people from outside the town.
Within the socialist ranks, the expectation was that the move would be a mere formality—an exercise in procedure with little chance of success. Historically, the town had seen PP and its predecessor, Alianza Popular, hold sway, except during a brief period when Compromís was in power.
Yet the night delivered something unexpected. The contest ended in a tie, with the PP and PSOE each holding the line at 68 votes. It was a surprising outcome, especially since Arturo Abad, who had served as Alcosser’s mayor from 2015 to 2019, appeared on the popular list. Several other candidates on the PP slate were registered locally but did not live within the town borders. A coin toss ultimately broke the tie, tipping the balance in favor of the socialists and signaling a court‑backed victory for the new administration.
That sudden result thrust the new slate into the role of governing, a responsibility their party had not anticipated when recruiting them for the ballot. Still, as the saying goes, one must live with the consequences. From the outset, four members of the newly formed local government took their duties as heads of the City Council seriously.
Experience in municipal governance proved to be an asset among the new leaders. Leading the council, Mayor María Ballesteros had previously served as the town’s first mayor from 1999 to 2007 in Gaianes, while the remaining members belonged to the Cocentaina socialist group.
Ballesteros offered a candid expectation, noting that with PSOE recovering little from Alcosser, the council would likely feature no more than a single representative from her party. The actual outcome, however, surpassed every forecast, prompting the team to roll up their sleeves and focus on practical tasks. They acknowledged the local people’s daily realities—accepting that their role was to act as stewards who listen first to the neighborhood’s needs and aspirations.
Not long after, a public meeting took place to share plans and hear residents’ concerns. The mayor described the response as overwhelmingly positive and helpful in shaping the administration’s agenda. The new government then set to work, prioritizing ongoing subsidies inherited from the preceding Conciliation Government while turning their attention to tangible infrastructure improvements.
They identified the renewal of the drinking water network and the repair of roads as key objectives. Ballesteros emphasized that, despite limited resources common to small towns, the council had inherited a financially sound municipal framework and was determined to make the most of it. The voters’ support, she suggested, reflected a belief in the value of experience and continuity in leadership. The aim was to honor that trust and deliver results that residents could feel in their daily lives.
In her assessment, the mayor argued that the votes signaled confidence in a track record and a readiness to deliver. The message they took to heart was that the town’s people wanted capable hands at the helm, and they were committed to meeting those expectations with humility and persistence.
Alcosser de Planes joined the Society of l’Alcoià and El Comtat
Rosa Sellés is another member of the municipal government. Between 2003 and 2015 she served as a Cocentaina councilor, handling Culture, Social Services, Police, and Festivals, and later continued her work in Planes, despite being in opposition. She acknowledged the label many observers had used—paratrooper—but stressed that joining the mayoral slate was a decision taken with full awareness of its consequences. She emphasized daily presence in Alcosser and a steadfast commitment to work with neighbors for the town’s benefit.
thirty euros
Amparo Bosch, also from Cocentaina, spoke with a similar candor. He currently serves as a PSOE adviser with the Valencian Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FVMP). He recalled that once the campaign began, he took on responsibility for organizing party efforts, a process already shaped by the previous administration. The socialist team stood out for their strong resolve and a practical approach—participation costs were modest, with only a 30‑euro contribution requested for general assembly sessions every quarter. The goal was clear: to develop the town together with the neighbors.
Rounding out the list, Marcos Llorens had finished fourth in the race and also serves as a Cocentaina councilor. He has directed the Center for Rural Development (Ceder) Aitana and contributed to Urban Planning and Finance. He noted that his inclusion had been a subject of speculation up to a week before the slate was submitted, and he believed the City Council’s work would hinge on accountability for any missteps by the PP. His ambition was to work hard and foster hope so people from the town would show up again in four years, ready to participate and contribute.