The first ordinary general assembly of the year for the Alicante Provincial Council was brief, lasting only about thirty minutes with a slim agenda and a single motion presented by the socialist group. This situation led the PSPV-PSOE to retract its accusations against the governing team from the People’s Party, which had been criticized for delaying council business and not delivering on time. The majority defended their record by pointing to several approved projects, including a 5.7 million euro allocation to boost domestic tourism in the province through the rehabilitation of the former Xorret de Cati hotel and related ecotourism activities in five other natural areas. They also highlighted a surplus for the autonomous body. In contrast, critics warned that municipal councils under Suma would benefit less from the overall budget while local administrations faced continued pressure due to delays in approving council budgets, amid ongoing negotiations between the government and opposition groups, which sparked public criticism over perceived inaction.
The budget of the Alicante Provincial Council increased by 4%, reaching 295 million
The session also heard PSPV questions directed at the government team about several items in the year’s draft accounts, including projects related to the congress venues in Alicante and Elche, the Provincial Council seat in Benidorm, and participation in the Cooperation Fund. Socialists accused the council of resisting participation in cooperative programs for years and criticized investment choices favoring larger municipalities over less populated areas. They argued that the Botànic framework started with a fund designed to support smaller towns. In response, the government team, through first vice president Ana Serna, stated that these were technical issues and that a written reply would be provided after consultation with the socialist spokesperson.
5.7 million will promote domestic tourism
The general assembly, held this January, unanimously approved a plan to boost tourism in the inland areas of Alicante. The project allocates 5.7 million euros to the initiative, focusing on rehabilitating the Xorret del Cati hotel and promoting nature-based and ecotourism activities in five other areas under provincial supervision. The aim is to stimulate new demand along the Costa Blanca by expanding the range of nature-focused experiences available to visitors, according to the council president, Toni Pérez.
Following the assembly’s quick start, tensions emerged between the two governing blocs, with Socialist representatives criticizing the People’s Party for what they described as a stalled assembly. Vicente Arques, the PSPV spokesman, lamented that the council appeared to lack leadership and accused the majority of wasting December with a thin agenda. The opposition claimed that the full, busy month had not been utilized and that important work had been left aside.
duplication
The government’s reply came swiftly through Serna, who accused Arques and the socialist group of misunderstanding the functioning of the State Council and undervaluing the assembly. The 5.7 million grant to rehabilitate the Xorret del Cati site was framed as a key investment for Suma, along with the proposal of a special treasury operation to advance up to 75 percent of anticipated property tax and IAE receipts from municipal councils. Serna summed up the stance by saying it was regrettable that PSPV failed to recognize the importance of the items approved in plenary.
The short session and the clash between the popular and socialist groups occurred while budget negotiations remained unresolved and near completion. New meetings are scheduled for the following week, with the account approval session anticipated between January 20 and 30, though the exact date had not yet been confirmed.
Library service for inaccessible areas
The sole motion from the socialist group proposed the creation of a mobile library service to serve communities without library access. The proposal advanced with Vox abstaining and the Popular Group offering an amendment. The plan calls for a feasibility study to implement the service and a formal agreement with the Ministry of Culture and Sports to develop it. The Popular Group’s amendment suggested that the Provincial Council insert a corresponding line in the next budget after the study and agreement are completed, ensuring funding for the initiative in due course.