Seven of the nine socialist councilors in Alicante gathered on Monday morning to address a disputed move by Francesc Sanguino, the spokesperson for the City Council, who publicly dismissed three advisers tied to former senator Ángel Franco. The councilors also questioned the removal of deputy spokesman Trini Amorós and wrote a formal request asking for the three trust posts to be restored and Amorós returned to her duties. The petition was presented at the Town Hall last Friday.
In attendance were Trini Amorós, Miguel Millana, Raúl Ruiz, Lola Vílchez, Llanos Cano, Manolo Marín, and Manuel Martínez. The last two are associated with the Alexandria sector in the province, including Vincent Round, the Municipal Policies secretary, and Carlos Gimenez, the Corporate Policy Secretary.
Sanguino Punishes the Franco Sector: Dismisses Three Advisers and Seeks to Free the Number Two Member of the Group
The councilors demanded that Sanguino reverse both the dismissal of the advisers and the reshaping of the group spaces. They insist the decision was made without prior consultation and that it directly affects workers who learned of their removal from the media rather than through official channels. Miguel Millana, the municipal socialist group leader and local party secretary, emphasized, “Decisions of this depth cannot be made outside the group.” He pointed out that the changes were not clearly justified and did not specify how they would impact the individual duties of each council member.
Millana urged Francesc Sanguino to reconsider his position and, if necessary, pause the decision, noting that it threatens the core values of the Socialist Party.
The seven mayors signed a resolution to be forwarded to Sanguino, with the aim of presenting the agreement to the general assembly secretariat and pausing the dismissals.
At this moment, there is no public statement about whether Amorós will continue in her role as city spokesperson.
Sanguino Escalates Alicante Tensions to Ferraz: Condemns Franco’s Parallel Group of Municipalities
The decision to escalate comes after a week marked by tensions linked to the Alicante PSOE’s stance on the tourist tax. Sanguino filed orders on Friday to dismiss the three advisers and strip Trini Amorós of her powers, arguing that the move was necessary in a broader political context and in opposition to the position held by Ximo Puig, the head of the Generalitat.
In a letter sent to Ferraz on Monday morning, with copies to the provincial party and to Valencia, Sanguino accused Ángel Franco of running a parallel group of municipalities. He requested action from local secretary general Miguel Millana and the broader socialist leadership. The timing of this action coincided with public actions by Adriana Lastra, the party’s deputy secretary general, and a moment of visible friction with Santos Cerdán, the organizing secretary, highlighting internal tensions within the party structure.
This report is based on statements and documents circulating in local council circles and party communications. Attribution: City Council records and party briefings.