A confrontation over regional investments is unfolding in the Valencian Community as the PP and Vox-led council in the central government proposes changes to a 2022 agreement worth 200 million euros. The proposal would erase 21.6 million euros slated for Alicante, part of projects valued at 6.1 million euros, effectively cutting almost 15 million from the province’s planned works. Valencia would see a different shift: the Environment Ministry plan, presented to the Ministry of Transport, indicates that the province would lose 2.3 million for projects while receiving 34.4 million in return. The defense from the regional Environment department is that the Botanic plan for the province is unrealizable because the projects must be completed by December 2025, yet there is no renunciation of the proposals currently slated for removal. The rationale emphasizes that the changes aim to realign investments with what the administration describes as feasible timelines and priorities for the Botànic coalition. This shift has sparked critical responses from Socialist lawmakers who visited the scene with urgency this Thursday. Alejandro Soler, the provincial secretary and PSPV president, demanded that the regional president, Carlos Mazón, rectify the situation and continue with the originally planned investments. He argued that removing actions in Alicante exposes a political stance that abandons the province to favor larger sums for Valencia. Soler’s statements reflect a broader perception among the socialists that investment decisions are being reallocated to strengthen Valencia’s profile at Alicante’s expense. This claim is echoed by other regional officials who suggest a pattern of movement of funds away from Alicante toward Valencia, a charge that underscores the political friction surrounding regional infrastructure planning. The subdelegate of the Government in Alicante, Juan Antonio Nieves, denounced the situation, stating that Mazón has moved fifteen million euros of planned works from Alicante to Valencia. Nieves added that the provincial money is redirected even as the national government signs a nearly 90 million euro contract to build the third rail on the A-7 between Crevillent and Orihuela, a project seen as a separate investment initiative aligning with national transport priorities. The comment reflects a view that local funds are being siphoned in favor of projects elsewhere, raising concerns about equity in the distribution of infrastructure benefits. Reactions from the Socialist side extended into the regional Cortes Valencianas, where Maria Jose Salvador, the deputy spokeswoman for the Socialist group, criticized Mazón for what she described as hypocrisy while asking Madrid to cut investments for Alicante. Salvador asserted that it is regrettable for the regional government to request substantial investments to be pared back in Alicante while it pleads for more resources in Valencia. The unfolding debate highlights tensions between different levels of government over how to allocate limited infrastructure funds and how to interpret feasibility within tight deadlines. Observers note that the dynamic is not only about current budgets but also about political signals sent to voters in the two provinces. In Alicante, stakeholders watch closely as the state and regional administrations navigate a complex landscape of project approvals, funding reassignments, and the timing of execution, all of which influence local development plans well into the coming years. Proponents on both sides emphasize accountability and transparency, urging policymakers to explain the criteria guiding each shift and to ensure that the most pressing regional needs receive timely attention. As the discourse continues, Alicante residents seek clear, consistent commitments that sustain essential works, while Valencia officials monitor a broader allocation framework that reflects interprovincial balance and national transportation priorities. The situation underscores how regional political dynamics can shape the pace and scope of infrastructure work, with potential consequences for local economies, employment, and long-term growth in both provinces.
