No demonstrations, no tents, no posters. There is nothing to signal upcoming municipal and regional elections. This is the mood in Alicante’s smallest municipalities where campaigns pass almost unnoticed, aside from a few isolated efforts by local candidates to publicize their plans. Despite persistent needs in rural areas, especially calls for more services and policies that extend beyond municipal powers to combat depopulation, residents hold on to hope. They plan to vote again on May 28, convinced that the ballot can address their demands.
Across the region, different political groups concentrate their primary campaigning on the larger cities where votes are plentiful. The absence of influential party leaders in rural areas stands out, save for occasional visits. In these smaller towns, traditional poster campaigns are scarce, and mayors often do not mobilize audiences through spectacle. The simple reason: everyone in the villages knows one another, and after four years of direct administration, people have formed a clear idea of whom to support.
Consider Tollos, the smallest municipality in the district of El Comtat with roughly 30 inhabitants. The PP mayor, Félix Frau, has led the council since 2011 and is seeking reelection. He notes that no events or posters are organized here because everyone already knows who he is, and because the rival lists from PSOE and Compromís are composed of non-local residents. Communication remains constant, he explains, while the other lists are seen as outsiders.
Population decline is already affecting one in five municipalities in Alicante
It is striking that the municipal administration mainly serves residents and processes subsidies from higher authorities to enable urban projects, constrained by tight budgets. Frau adds that city councils do not typically let them down, though dealings with the Generalitat can take longer. The core challenge remains depopulation; tourism may help with initiatives like Route 99, but the town’s future hinges on keeping residents working the land and staying in town.
In Famorca, Vicente Ruiz and El Comtat’s second smallest municipality, with 48 residents, echo similar views. The minister, a PP member, hopes to renew his post after four years in office. He believes eight years would be more realistic given bureaucratic slowdowns that prevent many projects from being realized.
In both Tollos and nearby towns, campaigns are quiet. The outsiders are few, and candidatesLimit their presence. A Sunday afterMass reminder at the local bar is about the extent of electoral outreach. The depopulation trend is stark in Ruiz’s town where about 90 percent of residents are over 70. The emphasis is on delivering services that attract people from outside, such as more frequent healthcare visits and better phone coverage.
In Vall d’Ebo, Leonor Jiménez, a socialist mayor and re-election candidate, oversees a municipality of just over 200 people in Marina Alta. The area became the center of last summer’s devastating fire, prompting promises of Generalitat support, though bureaucracy remains a barrier. The fire also shapes discussions about economic and social recovery in the municipality.
While uncertainty remains, officials see potential in recognizing local products and improving healthcare access. The need for reliable service networks is clear, especially as the doctor visits only once or twice weekly. This gap places a premium on robust local planning and sustained community engagement.
Firefighters contain the fire in Vall d’Ebo
Despite an uncertain future for rural areas, there is talk of leveraging local identity to keep young residents, including the soon-to-be named origin of Perelló, a native fruit found among apples and pears, which could encourage youth to stay. Improved healthcare is essential, with more regular doctor visits cited as a high priority. The Compromís candidacy, composed of young townspeople, has begun outlining its program, and a joint presentation with the regional emergencies secretary is planned after the fire.
Even so, the mayor is glad that younger residents are stepping up to lead. If their slate wins, support will be available to them, and vice versa. The shift toward youth leadership is seen as a sign of renewal amid ongoing depopulation concerns.
Living place
Vall d’Alcalà, another community hit hard by the blaze, has about 160 residents and is led by socialist Pablo Martínez, a candidate seeking a third term. He notes that urgent actions from the Agriculture Department are underway and that officials are monitoring natural regeneration to decide if reforestation is needed. Help for farms in production is on the way, but the town faces a shortage of housing that threatens population retention and recruitment. Approving a new General Plan could enable measured growth and support rehabilitation with adequate public transportation. The campaign, like others, has largely gone unnoticed, with focus on handing out brochures detailing past work and future plans.
Paco Picazo of Compromís, mayor of Quatretondeta in El Comtat, notes a desire to step back after two terms. The town, with 133 residents, has minimal campaign activity but shares the broader concern about depopulation. He emphasizes creating working conditions that attract people, pointing to fiber optic investments as a step to prevent outmigration, though reliable communications still lag. He insists the solutions must come from locals who know the terrain well, not from above.