Carolina Gracia, the PSOE candidate for Mayor of Orihuela, unveiled the government program for the next four years, describing it as an open project that adapts to the evolving needs of the municipality.
With the electoral list complete, Gracia emphasized that the program must stay dynamic, attentive to trends and the volatility of the changing economic and social landscape.
María García, who holds the second spot on the PSOE list, reassured residents that Orihuela has long faced challenges from a lack of dialogue and a clear plan that would create more opportunities for local residents over time.
She added that the party has demonstrated the ability to make bold decisions from multiple perspectives, achieving consensus that expands opportunities in employment, recreation, and the improvement of life quality across neighborhoods, districts, and coastal areas.
Gregorio Canales, the academic coordinator of the Arzobispo Loazes Chair, discussed Orihuela’s orchard development in terms of tourism and education. José Antonio Muñoz Grau, a social activist across several Orihuela groups, offered cultural suggestions, including actions to support the university’s headquarters relocation.
Gema Ruiz, an expert in heritage and cultural property protection, highlighted the crucial role of policymakers in preserving cultural and historical assets through comprehensive management.
In terms of equality and diversity, Juan Miguel López, a socialist candidate in Orihuela and president of the Atrévete association, advocated promoting diversity among minors to build a society free of aggression.
Lastly, José Caselles of Club Tragamillas described Orihuela as a true sports city.
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Gracia stressed that the government project should begin with a strategically agreed plan that engages the entire socioeconomic fabric and extends to every area. She noted unfinished work from past administrations under the People’s Party and said the municipal budget had already been set.
One of the first questions Gracia plans to address on Monday, May 29, is the structural reform of the City Council, which will require a deeper update, restructuring, and analysis of its functioning.
The current mayor noted progress this year, including the consolidation of more than 250 staff, an expanded police force with 70 new officers, and 40 additional municipal solid-waste workers.
Additionally, the discussion pointed toward future projects such as the draft Special Plan and the City of Sports, with hydrological survey contracts signed. The aim is for Orihuela to have a new, comprehensive plan in the next 10 to 15 years, accompanied by a clear roadmap and long-term planning through special plans.
According to the socialist program, Orihuela’s plan focuses on ten administrative areas to ensure the municipality serves all its residents and geographical zones, delivering a higher quality of life for everyone.
Gracia asserted that Orihuela has emerged from a period of lethargy under current governance and that four more years are needed to advance a robust program of real development proposals for the city, a sentiment echoed by party supporters and community leaders alike. [Attribution: PSOE Orihuela communications]