For a second consecutive day at the start of the 28M campaign, mayor and reelection hopeful Luis Barcala of the PP pressed the audience to vote with purpose, aiming to reinforce local government and push back against a leftward shift. The event, originally postponed last Friday due to rain, drew about 700 people to a venue beside the tram depots. Barcala presented a candidacy designed to operate with clear autonomy from the party line, signaling a plan meant to stand on its own merits while maintaining alignment with party goals.
On this occasion Barcala went further. He urged voters to support the PP even if their personal preferences lay elsewhere, emphasizing a focus on what is best for Alicante. He also underscored efforts to consolidate political support and reduce opposition at the ballot box. The tone included a confident pledge from the start of his speech, highlighting the party’s governance record and acknowledging the contributions of several colleagues. He credited a compact team that, he said, broke away from past divisions and demonstrated that different methods could yield results. The public recognition of Ciudadanos advisers in the City Council echoed a sense of political collaboration among the participants, who were accustomed to public displays of party solidarity.
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Mere moments after this gesture, the final stretch of Barcala’s talk shifted to emphasize a political formation facing the challenge of maintaining municipal representation. He warned against voting for options that would waste ballots, calling for a vote that serves the city’s interests and urges continued support in these elections. The message was read as an attempt to reframe Ciudadanos and its role in local governance.
Barcala also leveled criticisms at the other government option that seeks to broaden the PP’s electoral reach. He asserted that the upcoming elections would either advance with the PP or retreat with a broader left coalition, insisting that there is no middle path. He promised leadership that would not let the left push the city toward decline, describing a political landscape in stark terms and echoing a familiar maxim about a potential triad reminiscent of past regional coalitions.
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Barcala, intent on maintaining governance rather than conceding control, sought support from voters who desire a stable and united government that safeguards rights and freedoms. Yet his rhetoric extended beyond electoral talk as he evaluated earlier promises and introduced new ideas to the agenda. One fresh proposal proposed naming a future cultural district in Alicante, a city of music and dance that would be known as Las Harineras. The plan involves establishing four conservatories and an auditorium to support music students in rehearsals and performances.
Also highlighted were commitments to language policy, educational reform at the district level, and measures aimed at avoiding squatting as well as prohibiting begging and prostitution. The audience applauded while Barcala described a pedestrianization project for Constitution Avenue aimed at transforming the city center.
Among those present at the nomination event were familiar faces and community leaders, including several former officials. Some participants preferred to avoid media moments, while others such as the head of local festivals and neighborhood representatives remained close to the proceedings. The gathering reflected a cross-section of Alicante’s civic life, with attendees who could potentially lead or influence future collaborations in the municipal landscape.