“A baseless ghost.” This line captures a persistent rumor surrounding the group often described as unable to participate in Valencian Courts, a supposed 5% voting barrier that would bar them from representation. The coalition promotes its election program for the autonomous community of Alicante and defends the work it has undertaken over the past four years. Ministries of Housing and Transparency are highlighted, and the message also speaks to existing members of Botànic with a call for continuity and reform.
The top two candidates on the Unides Podem list for Cortes, Alejandro Aguilar and Estefania Blanes, accompanied by the coalition’s regional team, unveiled the party’s platform this Thursday in the presence of the list’s coordinator Manolo Kopeck.
United for Alicante faces scrutiny over internal debates and policy clashes from nightlife to regional transport in Valencia
At an event held at the 80 Mundos bookstore in the city of Alicante, the coalition outlined its priorities for the upcoming legislative session. Aguilar emphasized a focus on public health care, stabilizing prices, boosting local shopping, ecological planning, and youth employment as central pillars of their agenda.
Third Botany
According to Aguilar, the aim for the 28M elections is to renew Botany’s presence for the third time, noting that the first government the coalition could not join under United We Can was marked by efforts to root out corruption. The second administration was framed as protecting citizens with a public-oriented vision, and the third iteration would seek to deepen reforms if the electoral result allows it. The message remains one of transforming society and reinforcing the existing governance model.
To that end, barring an unlikely dramatic victory by PSPV, the purple alliance remains committed to crossing the 5% threshold. Aguilar expresses confidence that the coalition will not be left out, a risk some opponents might try to repeat from the 2019 results where approximately 100,000 votes were cast in Alicante.
Focusing on the 5% barrier on both the left and the right
Regarding its partnerships within the regional government, PSPV and Compromís, the Unides Podem leader stressed the importance of Botànic II’s framework for developing measures not previously possible due to lack of capacity or political will. Aguilar believes some proposals could have been implemented earlier; examples include the allocation of SAREB housing and other measures such as a tourist tax, which PSPV has not abandoned.
Offers
On program specifics, Estefania Blanes stated the goal of conducting an in-depth study of a production model that prioritizes community-driven innovation, valuing traditional industries across the Valencia region, including footwear and ceramics, while reducing reliance on tourism.
Unides Podem rejects a proposal recently floated by Podem calling for a Ministry of Tourism. The coalition argues that economic autonomy cannot be tied to a single sector, and it is important for companies to diversify support.
Among the measures proposed by the purple coalition candidates this Thursday are plans to reverse the privatization of hospitals in Denia and Elche, expand mental and dental health services within the social security system, enlarge the public housing stock, support agri-food trade to better control food prices, and create a public energy company to ensure energy sovereignty.