The provincial secretary of PSPV-PSOE and a national deputy comments on the desalination subsidy rollout
Alejandro Soler, a leading figure within the PSPV-PSOE and a national deputy, voiced surprise upon learning that the subsidy for desalinated water would be withdrawn. He noted that the Ministry of Ecological Transition supports local irrigators and maintains the price of desalinated water at 0.45 euros per cubic metre. Soler criticized the government under Pedro Sánchez for raising costs, a stance echoed by Generalitat President Ximo Puig and Elche Mayor Carlos González during the morning briefing.
He explained that farmers are already grappling with higher energy bills and inflation. Soler questioned why the subsidy for desalinated water supplied to those served by the Tajo-Segura aqueduct was removed. He urged the Provincial Secretariat of the PSOE, along with the Ministry of Ecological Transition, to consider the needs of farmers and to adhere to drought-related decrees. He stressed that irrigation workers cannot shoulder further price pressures and that the situation requires both sensitivity and swift action.
In response to the outage affecting the Tagus-Segura transfer, the Consell pressed for an immediate rollback of the desalinated water subsidy. The socialist leadership criticized the ministry and Acuamed’s decisions and encouraged reflection to avoid harming agriculture and irrigation workers. Soler emphasized the importance of maintaining a reasonable price for desalinated water, underscoring that rural areas are already facing difficult conditions and that the agricultural sector should not be burdened further.
He supported Generalitat President Ximo Puig’s stance and his inquiry into the Royal Decree project, as well as the current claims presented before the Council of State if the Tagus-Segura agreements are not honored. On behalf of Alicante’s socialists, Soler reiterated broad support for the province’s water users and vowed to seek an immediate resolution to the situation.
Unity, not a campaign tactic
The provincial secretary aimed a pointed message at Carlos Mazón, the head of the PP, following Mazón’s public comments on the matter. Soler argued that Mazón has chosen to frame the issue around political campaigns rather than seeking practical solutions. He asserted that irrigation communities require assistance, not polarization. Soler urged Mazón to set campaign rhetoric aside and to contribute constructively by pursuing solutions that protect the regional water users and the broader agricultural economy.