In a year that many would describe as exceptionally challenging, with the pandemic still affecting daily life and the war in Ukraine shaping economic realities from energy costs to consumer prices, the Alicante Provincial Assembly has chosen to emphasize the core issue at hand. The focus leans more toward national policy discussions and broader autonomy rather than routine state news. Yet the government team has rolled out several plans intended to cushion the hardest-hit sectors during this 2022 period.
The most telling sign that national and regional politics are dominating parliamentary discourse is the recording of two motions that the People’s Party, which shares control of the institution with Ciudadanos, will bring to the upcoming plenary session this week. The resolutions, filed in December, address the reduction of penalties for sedition and the controversial “yes is yes” law. These moves align with the party’s national strategy to put pressure on President Pedro Sánchez while advancing its own leader, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, toward the government in Madrid next year. As part of a broader strategy, the effort also targets the erosion of Generalitat chief Ximo Puig, with the aim of strengthening the position of the PPCV leader. The surrounding context includes the proximity of a significant election cycle scheduled for 2023.
State of the state
Following the two resolutions submitted by PP, the outlook for the next plenary session appears likely to resemble the discussions seen in the county debate held mid-month. In that earlier session, Mazón delivered the opening remarks, criticizing Puig’s administration and the Botànic framework over the past seven years. He backed his critique with data on shortfalls in planned investments in health and education. The opposition, comprised of PSPV-PSOE and Compromís, remained consistent in defending the Consell, which has been formed by those two parties and Unides Podem as a third partner.
The debate is not simply about politics in isolation. It reflects tensions over governance and the allocation of resources across the province. The opposition accuses the government of inefficiencies and questions related to budget decisions, while the governing coalition argues that strategic priorities are being met and that implementation challenges are a normal part of large-scale change. The discussion in the chamber therefore doubles as a domestic policy examination as well as a broader political maneuver, with implications for the 2023 electoral landscape.
Lawmakers turn debate on the state of Alicante province into an election campaign act
This is not the first time Mazón has used government reform language to frame sedition penalties in a way that positions the national administration as an obstacle to regional progress. Speaking as the leader of his party, Mazón linked Sánchez and Puig in a narrative describing a pernicious tandem that allegedly places Catalan separatist interests above those of the Valencian Community and the broader state. The critique also targeted what Mazón described as insufficient state investment in Alicante, aligning local grievances with his broader political critique.
Cs, the other partner in the provincial government, joined in the critique of national policy and budgetary decisions. The party’s spokesperson, Javier Gutiérrez, faced internal challenges within his own organization, including a temporary suspension that paused his public momentum. The opposition has repeatedly argued that the Cs faction is closer to PP positions than to the orange party’s platform, adding another layer to intra-coalition dynamics amid ongoing budget debates and public scrutiny.
Opposition
The left bloc has continued prioritizing the work of other administrations while highlighting regional progress. PSPV, under spokesperson Toni Francés, has focused on praising the achievements of the PSPV council in Alicante, particularly in digital transformation and the adoption of new technologies. Initiatives cited include the Digital Zone, the Center for Aging, and bids to host national headquarters for Artificial Intelligence and Space agencies in Alicante and Elche. These arguments underscore a governance narrative that frames local digital modernization as a driver of economic resilience and public service improvement.
On the other side, the government team has accused PSPV and Compromís lawmakers of operating as remote delegates in plenary, accusing them of a cautious stance when it comes to scrutinizing budgets that affect Alicante’s finances. Critics argue that these deputies have shown reluctance to oppose proposed tourism taxes, despite strong opposition from the province’s tourism sector. Gerard Fullana, the spokesperson for the Valencian supporters, has kept the focus on linking PP with corruption, while continuing to stress the party’s commitment to anticorruption and transparent governance.
In the latest exchange, the assembly’s president highlighted the province’s ongoing energy challenges and the need to shield residents from rising costs. The debate touched on the balance between providing immediate relief and pursuing longer-term economic strategies that secure Alicante’s competitiveness in a rapidly changing national and international landscape.
In the most recent debate on the state of the province, Mazón announced an energy and consumer relief package totaling 115 million, to be disbursed in the early months of the next year. The funds are intended to mitigate the impact of higher energy prices and the rising cost of living, with the emergency fund slated for activation in the first quarter of 2023, ahead of the regional elections.