One step separates mayoral candidate Santiago Román from a potential rise to Sant Joan d’Alacant’s popular banner. In the days ahead, voters will see the PP and Cs contending for a unified line, as locals push for a bloc that includes liberals and critics of the PSOE in a bid to stabilize leadership. Manuel Aracil, former PP mayor and current party chair, raised the possibility of a PP-Cs alliance for the municipal elections on the upcoming Tuesday. Cs signaled openness to collaboration, urging action from the present partners while reserving judgment about who would sit at the top of the list. Both sides laid out a framework for cooperation, suggesting a common approach that prioritizes projects over individual names.
Aracil’s clash with Román seven years ago was a turning point that helped fuel his departure from the PP. When he later joined forces with Román, he insisted that a united center-right, as in 2011, could restore the mayoralty and restore the balance in the council.
Román, the current PP mayor, publicly floated the idea without detailing who would lead the ticket or whether Aracil would participate. Asked for specifics, Aracil responded, noting that the value of the discussion lies in the plan and the priorities rather than the individuals involved. The focus remains on tangible projects that can move Sant Joan forward.
In Sant Joan, Cs and PSOE currently govern under an agreement: the socialist Jaime Albero would lead for the first two years, followed by Román for the final two, a scheme Román once rejected in a similar arrangement with the PP.
Socialists will respond today to serious accusations from their partners, who allege mismanagement and indifference.
Hours after Aracil spoke, Cs issued a statement aligning with the PP. Orange party members convened to discuss the PP proposal and expressed readiness to collaborate immediately. The statement emphasized that the union between the two center-right groups appears natural given their ideological proximity, while also criticizing what it calls the Socialist Party’s governance and pushing bipartisanship to a critical juncture. The PP could become a new ally in this evolving dynamic.
Aracil remarked that a better electoral result for the PP would have made this alliance more timely in the current term. He added that the ultimate goal remains serving the municipality, and that timing can still align with long-term benefit for residents.
Antagonism toward the PSOE
Cs councillors argue that the moment has arrived to address widespread apathy and perceived inefficiency in the council’s operations under the socialist leadership. Residents have raised concerns across areas such as municipal cleaning, commerce, education, festivals, and local policing. They point to a history of loyalty to partners in power, arguing that loyalty has its limits when residents’ daily lives are affected. The Cs team contends that a new course is needed and that the people of Sant Joan deserve decisive leadership now.
Julia Parra, Cs mayor, deputy, and local coordinator, added that dialogue with the PP should happen promptly. She described mismanagement by the government partners as pushing the town toward an unsustainable situation and urged immediate talks to begin delivering for residents. Parra emphasized that the community’s needs should guide collaboration, not election cycles, and urged a concrete path forward for Sant Joan.
Statement from the Socialists
Esther Donate, the PSOE spokesperson and mayor, stated that an emergency meeting would be convened with the socialist municipal group to review the situation. After discussions with the party leadership, a joint statement would be issued to clarify next steps for the local socialist team and to reflect on the evolving alliances in the municipality.