The People’s Party in Alicante’s Provincial Council faces a sweeping renewal. The waves of change bring a notable shift in leadership and composition. A large bloc will govern with a clear majority; the PSPV-PSOE will hold sixteen seats, Compromís thirteen, and Vox becomes the first far-right party to enter the provincial legislature. Of the sixteen seats for the PP, thirteen are newcomers. Only three will carry over: Ana Serna, who stayed as vice president after Julia Parra left Ciudadanos for the PP, Juan de Dios Navarro, and Bernabé Cano, who did not secure a seat this term. The debate on the covid vaccine continues to surface after the party secured another absolute majority in the municipal contest in La Nucía on May 28.
The Diputación de Alicante constitution already has a date: 19 July
The radical renewal within the PP means a fresh slate, particularly in the presidency, with eleven of the fourteen deputies from the previous term not returning. Carlos Mazón will be sworn in as the new president of the Consell in the coming weeks. Several familiar faces will not return to the Cortes: Alejandro Morant, Eduardo Dolón, Javier Sendra, Juan Bautista Roselló, Mari Carmen Jover, María Gómez, Miguel Ángel Sánchez, Sebastián Cañadas, Teresa Belmonte, and José Ramón González de Zárate. Adrián Ballester and Juan Francisco Pérez Llorca had already left their parliamentary posts before the term ended. A sizeable portion of the new PP members will accompany Mazón in the Valencian Parliament, including Dolón, Sendra, Gómez, González de Zárate, and Pérez Llorca. Parra had plans to join, but ultimately appeared on the PP list for Alicante. The Cortes position traditionally filled by Parra is now in the hands of Javier Gutiérrez, a former Cs assistant who has switched to the PP.
new leader
The fresh faces in the PP include the Mayor of Benidorm, who will step up to lead the institution, taking the reins from Mazón, and Toni Pérez, the party’s provincial chairman. With the addition of Serna as a third deputy and Navarro Elche, the jurisdiction of Santa Pola will be overseen by Loreto Serrano. The four deputies from l’Alacantí are Cristina García (Alicante), Lourdes Llopis (El Campello), José Antonio Bermejo (Mutxamel), and David Aracil (Sant Joan d’Alacant). As in the PSPV, San Vicente del Raspeig will remain unrepresented in the PP’s provincial fold.
In Vega Baja, the PP maintains three deputies. They include María del Mar Sáez, the councilor from Pilar de la Horadada, Antonio Bernabeu, the mayor of Cox, and Francisco Cano, the mayor of Formentera del Segura. The list is rounded out by Carlos Pastor, a former mayoral candidate in Alcoy in the last municipal cycle; Arturo Poquet, mayor of Benissa; Magdalena Martínez, mayor of Biar; and Carmen Sellés, mayor of Hondón de las Nieves—the latest endorsements. Miguel Ángel Salguero, a Villena mayoral candidate, was among the widely discussed names in the PP’s parliamentary pool.
the rest of the groups
Vox stands as the last group still confirming its slate, while PP’s chosen names appear ready for the provincial stage. Alicante’s councilor Mario Ortolá is among those who seem poised to represent the province for Vox in this legislature. In Compromís, which will also hold a seat, Ximo Perles will replace Gerard Fullana, who will join the new legislature in Parliament. Only three PSPV members will repeat, just as in the PP: José Antonio Amat, Joaquín Hernández, and Isabel López. Among the new faces, the socialist spokesperson is expected to be Vicente Arques, the mayor of l’Alfàs del Pi.
Most of the council’s lineup is now clear, with only a few scripts still to be written. The municipal constitution date remains July 19, and Alcalalí is the only town still awaiting a definitive resolution after the 28M elections. The inauguration of the new mayor there is planned for this Friday, with the creation of the new provincial Authority scheduled for the week of July 23.
Commitment tightens with LGTBI rights
The rights of the LGTBI community continue to be a central point in the political conversation. Compromís in the Alicante Provincial Assembly will present a proposal at its July ordinary general meeting to prepare a formal corporate statement defending the community’s rights. The session will occur on a Thursday rather than the usual Wednesday, because the Castellón State Council inauguration is taking place and a representation from the Alicante state institution will be present. That means a response from the governing team is expected later this week, and a corporate statement could be issued.
The Left has already pressed Valencia Community on Pride Day and the LGTBI flag, following the government pact between the PP and Vox and the stance of the far-right party. Rainbow flags were displayed at the entrance to the State Palace, underscoring the political moment. The regional leadership has stated that there will be no retreat on LGTBI rights in the Community of Valencia. When asked about future plans with Vox, Mazón emphasized there will be no rollback on the rights and freedoms gained in the autonomous region.