Budget of the Provincial Council of Alicante: without consensus with the Left or the Cooperation Fund and with delay
During the February session, the budget for 2024 was approved by the Alicante Provincial Council in a plenary meeting held at the Provincial Palace on Wednesday morning. The People’s Party presented its absolute majority to steer this year’s accounts, with opposition groups PSPV-PSOE, Compromís and Vox voting against.
Although the government team aimed to keep a tone of dialogue and consensus, the session exposed existing tensions within the provincial institution. The vote tally stood at sixteen in favor from the majority and fifteen against from the three opposition formations. Debates highlighted disagreements on how the Provincial Assembly should function, the province’s productive sectors, and the removal of the provincial IAE surcharge. Vox spokesperson German Jewelry questioned the PP’s support. The Benidorm Festival and its winning song were noted as aligning with actions observed from ultra-right leaders in recent days.
This year’s budget totals 295.3 million euros, marking a 4.1% increase from the previous year. The government team prioritized municipal support, allocating 133.7 million to local governments, which is a 0.69% rise. The plan also includes the Municipal Cooperation Fund. The Provincial Council will not participate in the Botànic-backed investment project for now. Deputy leaders Ana Serna and Marina Sáez presented the accounts on Monday and explained that participation would be voluntary under a new model under development by the Consell. The absence of corporatization of the Cooperation Fund was a major criticism from PSPV and Compromís, contributing to their vote against the plan.
These budgets emphasize direct aid to municipalities, councils, associations, and smaller local organizations, totaling more than 78 million euros and accounting for 26.52% of the overall budget, according to the council chair Tony Pérez. He highlighted a distinctly social character, noting a 6.7% rise in Social Welfare and Equality allocations, a 1.3% increase in Public Welfare, and a 13% boost for measures addressing depopulation and emergencies. The Emergencies and Demographic Issues sector is allocated 41.1 million, while the Economy, Communications and Water Cycle receives 29.6 million.
The Finance Commission last week did little to bring PSPV and Compromís closer to the government team. Even though the opposition submitted twenty amendments amounting to more than 1.6 million euros, and the socialists and Valencianists stressed the dialogue of the first vice president Ana Serna, those measures did not clinch a breakthrough. It was also noted that the government team abstained on this Wednesday’s vote at the Provincial Palace to navigate the obstacle posed by the Cooperation Fund. The Socialists had previously justified their past vote against participation in the Cooperation Fund.