Shortly after the end of 2022, deputies and senators in the Cortes Generales implemented measures to soften the impact of the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, and energy challenges, especially affecting the most vulnerable, while pandemic effects still linger. The Alicante delegation in Congress and the Senate presented a total of 4,460 initiatives in the chambers.
Beyond the issues affecting the entire population, two topics stood out for the province. First, the persistent grievance that Alicante receives insufficient investment in the General Government Budgets despite being the fifth largest GDP contributor. Second, the struggle for water resources created significant difficulties for Alicante farmers due to new cuts from the Tajo-Segura transfer. These matters were not the only focal points in Congress and the Senate. A large share of the Alicante representatives initiatives also sought to support families with limited resources to weather the crises of war and pandemic, while reviving key sectors in the province. Tourism emerged as a priority, particularly in light of the tourism tax approved by the Valencian Parliament. The importance of the sector in Alicante was underscored by the PSOE, which highlighted the Smart Platform for Tourist Destinations and its planned national headquarters in Benidorm. In another turn of events, two government agencies discussed in the Cortes in 2022, the Artificial Intelligence and Spatial Intelligence institutions, were allocated to other cities, with AI heading to La Coruna and Spatial Intelligence to Seville.
Most active
On the party front, Vox maintained its role as the most active group, driven by strong opposition to the government led by Pedro Sánchez. Alicante’s three deputies report that Vox accounted for 2,523 initiatives, more than half of the total registered by the province’s representatives. In contrast, the PSOE justified its lower number as a reflection of the Sánchez administration continuing into another year. The year 2022 also marked a notable shift in representation for Alicante, as in mid-May Josefina Bueno left the Senate to devote herself to leading the Ministry of Innovation and the universities in Elche. Her Senate seat was later filled by Gloria Calero, a former government delegate in the Valencian Community.
The year featured promises of broad economic support aimed at families and firms to weather the crises from war and the pandemic. Liberal loans, ERTE measures, and extensive energy assistance played a crucial role in stabilizing households. The increase in the minimum living income and the pension updates were highlighted as part of the social shield. Elche faced a key urgency to reach consensus on improving state finance and investment. In response to Alicante’s grievances, the Puig government redirected a portion of funds from the Sánchez administration toward the province to help mitigate the shortfall. An investment plan to improve water capacity, treatment, desalination, and connections across the region was called for by the economic team in Alicante.
Eliminate VAT
Throughout the year, parliamentary work culminated in a late-2022 measure that the government announced, removing VAT on staple foods to be sold tax-free for six months. Financial aid also included a 200 Euro monthly check and other bonuses related to fuel and housing, targeted at households earning under 27,000 Euros.
The opposition in the province was represented by Pablo Ruz, a senator for the People’s Party, who emphasized education as a key area in his proposals. He also lamented persistent infrastructure gaps and budgetary shortcomings in the province, including passenger flows on high-speed rail and the ongoing issue of Elche’s urban mobility delays, criticizing the government for missing deadlines for senator responses.
In Congress, Txema Guijarro, an aide to United We Can, highlighted the budget debates and argued that the province did not receive a fair share. A coalition effort with PSOE and Compromís secured a 51 million euro increase in Alicante’s investment, with 15 million earmarked for the high-speed rail link to Alicante station, 15 million for the Mediterranean Corridor, and 20 million for Cercanías services. The result was additional allocations aimed at strengthening rail connectivity and regional accessibility.
Worst budgets in Alicante history
Officials and critics debated the adequacy of the investment balance for Alicante, stressing the need for urgent rail improvements to connect the south of the country and Alcoy with Valencia. The administration faced calls to accelerate projects and better manage port operations and coastal development. Unidas Podemos representatives argued that 250,000 Alicante families would receive government aid and subsidies, while concerns about coastal management and ecological stewardship highlighted the need to contain bulk cargo within controlled facilities along the coast from the gulf toward Santa Pola.
National debate
Juan Ignacio López-Bas, a member of Ciudadanos, expressed frustration that Alicante carried limited weight in the national discourse, noting the persistent need for Mediterranean Corridor improvements, airport connectivity, and Cercanías modernization. He also suggested that the second half of 2022 centered on budget processes and argued that the provincial situation may reflect divergent rhetoric from the national leadership depending on the region, urging policymakers to harmonize their approach with the realities of Alicante.
Citations: Government records and parliamentary reports compiled during the 2022 session are referenced to reflect the described proposals and outcomes. These materials illustrate how regional needs influenced national debates on budgets, infrastructure, and social support across Alicante.