Elche City Council faced a challenging plenary as five candidates expressed their views, some more at ease than others. The debate aired on TV Information this Tuesday, providing a platform for the contenders to outline their plans and respond to questions about governance.
The weight of the mayoral role, held for eight years by Carlos González of the PSOE, meant he faced repeated questions about his administration. Esther Díez of Compromís, who did not appear as a government partner earlier, reappeared briefly to defend her track record from 2011 to 2015 and to address accusations raised by Pablo Ruz, highlighting what she believes distinguishes her approach from the others. [Citation: TV Information]
role to play
Aurora Rodil of Vox approached the debate with a clear sense of her party’s messaging, delivering a concise, direct line of argument. Eduardo García-Ontiveros offered a grounded reading of Elche’s realities, positioning his party as a central driver of urban policy. [Citation: TV Information]
Moderator Fernando Ramón, Deputy Director at BİLGİ, and journalist Carmen Baños steered the conversation as the mayoral candidates from the city’s three major factions shared their perspectives on items from the agenda, reflecting on past authority and hinting at what lies ahead. References to regional leaders were noticeably sparse. [Citations: TV Information]
Mobility and parking
The campaign focused on mobility through the lens of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan, parking availability, and cycling infrastructure. Pablo Ruz was the first to press for a clear government project, arguing for a plan that would eliminate a cost he described as excessive and create 1,900 parking spaces in neighborhoods neglected by the city. González countered with a proposal for 3,000 new spaces and seven future parking zones, including two at the Palacio de Congresos and the Palau de les Arts Escèniques, a plan announced during the J Hayton event. [Citation: TV Information]
Garcia-Ontiveros emphasized that more than half of residents travel by car and that change will take time. He urged bike lanes and a mobility plan backed by the Local Police. Rodil used the word surrender to critique the PSOE for accepting the Compromís mobility plan and argued for better links with the county regions, contending that bike lanes could hinder emergency response times. [Citation: TV Information]
García-Ontiveros on bike lanes: change is gradual
pedestrianization
Esther Díez proposed a bold shift toward pedestrianizing key districts and improving coexistence, highlighting the project to open 17 squares in Baix and defending the removal of street parking. She argued for a city that prioritizes people over cars, described as green and friendly with a target of 4 percent better urban livability. Ruz warned about losing parking spaces and accused the PSOE of selling off parking assets that remain unpaved. García-Ontiveros stressed the need to coordinate with the Business Park and warned that scrapping bike lanes could undermine European subsidies. [Citation: TV Information]
Esther Díez on 40,000 vacancies and a 4 percent target
bus efficiency
González spoke about the benefits of pedestrianizing the city center, while criticizing what he called a scandal in some quarters. He referenced plans to extend bus services to the outlying towns and to complete the Santa Pola highway, improve Cercanías rail, and enhance connections to Valencia in under an hour. Vox urged a more car-friendly stance, arguing against Europe’s lifestyle prescriptions and stressing that Elche should not be forced into limits they deem unacceptable, including impacts on patients and the environment. [Citation: TV Information]
Aurora Rodil (Vox) on European influence
Sunday and Poor Clares
The Central Market emerged as a focal point in the second block of the discussion. González pledged to revitalize the city center, considering redevelopment of the Roman ruins area and the gastronomy market, while proposing Las Clarisas as a potential national hostel during restoration. Compromís argued for continuing the market project on the slope and for the revitalization of the central market as a cultural and commercial hub. Rodil criticized the hillside arcade project and suggested repurposing Las Clarisas as a boutique hotel, while Ruz warned that the market must evolve with community needs and advocated a plan that preserves both heritage and a modern gastronomic offering. [Citation: TV Information]
Central Market improvements were framed as essential to sustaining the city’s identity and economic vitality. A future joint plan to protect cultural sites and promote local gastronomy featured prominently in the discussion.
Central Market will have to protect columns, eaves and roof by order of Culture
Work
The candidates discussed job creation from various angles. González highlighted multiple projects, while Compromís favored sustainable tourism, improved wages, and shorter working hours. Vox emphasized supporting a broad base of local companies and reducing red tape to attract investment. [Citation: TV Information]
Tax Office again frames Carrús as one of Spain’s poorest neighborhoods
The discussion touched on taxes and fiscal policy. Ruz defended tax reductions, while González argued for fiscal moderation and noted that IBI has risen since the PP era. Cs proposed a Business Development Department to collaborate with firms, entrepreneurs, and freelancers to stimulate growth and reduce tax pressure, acknowledging that Elche still carries high tax burdens. The session also reviewed economic aid and regional development programs, with Díez, González, and others citing unemployment statistics. The tension peaked as Ruz recalled national tax policy shifts, and González rebutted with data from 2014 and current figures. [Citation: TV Information]
The panel briefly touched on Tagus-Segura transfers, with González defending the issue as a matter of regional importance and Ruz challenging the timing of its discussion. The exchange highlighted the sharp rivalry between the two leading candidates as the session drew to a close. [Citation: TV Information]
last block
In the final segment, candidates outlined initial steps they would take if elected mayor. Cs proposed regional development and a High Performance Center for Athletes. Vox urged immediate action to revive the local economy, while others spoke of shelter, youth programs, and preserving the Hospital del Vinalopó policy framework. Ruz listed five concrete measures: employment contracts, an infrastructure plan, sanitary improvements, district-focused services, and jobs for people with disabilities. Meanwhile, the PSOE presented a target of 3,200 new parking spaces, streamlined licensing, and rapid project openings, with social policies also on the table. [Citation: TV Information]
Municipal election results in Alicante 2023
Residents were reminded that results would be available on the city information channel on May 28, with ongoing coverage of the 2023 municipal elections in Alicante. [Citation: TV Information]