The provincial aid plan is set to be approved this Wednesday following an announcement by Alicante City Council President Carlos Mazón on February 20. He revealed the launch of a new consumer bonus campaign intended to distribute 20 million euros across provincial municipalities. As the provincial assembly prepares for its May plenary session, attention is already turning to the upcoming municipal and regional elections scheduled for the 28th. The session is expected to run shorter than usual amid the electoral period.
Officials from the Provincial Assembly’s government team have indicated that a decision will be deferred to the May plenary, pending a crucial green light report from the Generalitat. While commercial bonds received approval at the county agency this Wednesday, the rollout now depends on municipalities approving the foundations that will govern the campaign in each participating locality. With elections looming and Election Law restricting campaign disclosures, the launch of the consumer coupon program is likely to be postponed until after April 28. Some councils are even weighing whether to issue aid in July, aligning with summer discounts, or delay until September to coincide with the new school year.
Reception
The Diputación reports a strong reception to the initiative, with 129 municipalities requesting bonds and a total of 20 million euros to be allocated. In the city of Alicante, for example, 1.5 million euros are earmarked, while Elche would receive 1.2 million euros and Benidorm 650 thousand euros. Only a small number of municipalities appear uninterested in the program, all of them smaller communities. Aigües stands out as the only municipality with more than a thousand residents among those not seeking aid. The remaining towns—Tollos, Famorca, Almudaina, Quatretondeta, Benasú, Alcoleja, Llosa de Camacho, Alcosser, Gorga, Tormos, Sagra, Gaianes, Orxeta, and Vall de Laguar—are among the participants in varying degrees of demand.
During discussions at Alicante City Council on Tuesday, both government and opposition members debated the implementation of the consumer bonds. When questioned about timelines in the weeks since the campaign’s announcement, Antonio Manresa, spokesman for the administration led by Luis Barcala, remarked that there is a persistent demand for economic injections into local businesses. He noted that deadlines are tight due to the electoral calendar and that action taken now could influence outcomes once regional administrations are in place.
Natxo Bellido, the municipal spokesperson for Compromís, echoed a pragmatic stance. He pointed out that many promotional efforts yield results only after some delay and argued that launching consumer bonds would help counter inflation and support local producers and merchants navigating a challenging period. He suggested that a decoupling of political timelines from economic relief would be beneficial for sustaining local commerce during ongoing fiscal pressures.
Differences
Regarding the new edition of the Provincial Assembly’s consumer coupon, the plan diverges from the two prior campaigns run in 2022. This time, the number of campaigns will be tailored to each municipality, and the helpline will extend through 2023. In keeping with past practice, each coupon provides a 50 percent discount at participating merchants and must be used in a single purchase. The total aid per municipality now varies with population size, and overall, the money in circulation has doubled compared with earlier rounds. City councils will decide, for 2023, whether the bonus is deployed in one or several campaigns and which types of businesses are eligible to participate.
As the process unfolds, the scope and timing of disbursements remain fluid, with decisions likely influenced by local economic conditions and the administrative capacity of each municipality. The approach seeks to balance broad access to support with the administrative realities of delivering a multi-community incentive program. The overarching aim is to stimulate consumer activity, support local shops, and maintain momentum for economic recovery during periods of market fluctuation.