City Council creates a map to calculate the cost and production of putting solar panels on buildings.
Elche’s political landscape is shifting as a left-leaning coalition forms through a merger of Podemos, Esquerra Unida, and Alternativa Republica, together with the Green Alliance, led by Juantxo López Uralde. This coalition signals a unified push toward progressive governance, aiming to secure decisive influence that benefits the social majority and shifts municipal policies away from corporate interests. The aim is to bring about a change in how Elche’s city decisions are made, ensuring that policy choices kept in the last few years are reoriented toward the needs of residents rather than large firms and multinational corporations.
With the addition of this new group, the alliance stresses the importance of reaching agreements and expanding support. The message is clear: build consensus to deliver meaningful changes that voters in Elche widely associate with the public good. The parties describe their approach as one designed to turn municipal policy toward protecting residents while countering the influence of big business in local decisions. The rhetoric also includes a firm stance on energy policy, positioning themselves against perceived leniency toward solar projects that bypass community interests.
Specifically, the coalition views Alianza Verde as a partner in local environmental advocacy, including efforts at Camp d’Elx and surrounding neighborhoods. The aim is to ensure that solar installations are evaluated through community-interest declarations, rather than driven solely by private profit. The coalition articulates a clear distance from the tone used by other parties in Elche who they say are more tolerant of rapid solar development without robust community oversight.
Confronted with this model of energy transition, supporters argue for a broader, more inclusive strategy. They propose leveraging wastelands, rooftops, and industrial zones to expand renewable energy and to form municipal energy communities that reduce electricity costs for residents. This approach envisions a decentralized grid that empowers communities and lowers energy bills, while also creating local jobs and investment in sustainable infrastructure.
Moises Garcia, the mayoral candidate backed by the Confluencia de Izquierdas, welcomed the Uraldean alignment with Alianza Verde. He noted that the partnership strengthens the local environmental agenda and highlighted ongoing efforts to defend Camp D’Elx from perceived exploitation by multinational companies. Garcia emphasized collaboration with environmental groups within the municipality to sustain momentum on conservation and green energy projects.
Within Compromís Elche, the question of whether municipal authorities can cooperate with Podemos has become a point of contention. The merger is framed by the alliance as a step toward a united and comprehensive candidacy that prioritizes social welfare and ambitious policies. Negotiations with Compromís, who plan to compete jointly in the elections on May 28, have reached a standstill, described by some as a dead end. The dynamic reflects broader tensions about alliance-building and policy direction as the city moves toward the upcoming vote.