PSPV-PSOE pressures the Alicante County Council, pushing for changes within the Cooperation Fund and the coalition ofPPs and Cs. The Valencian Community’s High Court briefly paused the execution of the Council’s agreement earlier this month, delaying a 13.4 million euro contribution to the budget fund for the upcoming year. The Provincial Assembly, long wary of the investment plan and led by the popular Carlos Mazón, has consistently opposed the plan, arguing that the Generalitat has overstepped its constitutional powers. The court’s latest decision has energized Assembly leaders who see a chance to challenge the administration’s authority and defend provincial prerogatives.
Concentration
This development triggered a robust turnout among socialist mayors across the province. They gathered at the Parliament gates to press Mazón to join the fund, contending that the state has lost 100 million euros over the past seven years. Leading the demonstration, Toni Frances, the Alcoy mayor and PSPV spokesperson in the State Council, was joined by Elche city councillor Carlos González; Elda’s Rubén Alfaro, president of the Valencian Federation of Municipalities and Provinces; Orihuela’s Carolina Gracia; representatives from Xixona, Elisabeth López; Dolores’s Jose Joaquin Hernandez; Villena’s Fulgencio Cerdan; and Pinoso’s Lázaro Azorín. Some mayors, including Vicente Arques of L’Alfàs del Pi, José Chulvi of Xàbia, and Manuel Pineda of Rafal, did not attend due to concurrent commitments in Parliament where the Accompaniment Act was discussed. Gerard Fullana, Compromís spokesperson in the Diputación, also joined the protest, asserting that Mazón’s stance fuels corporate tension.
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Frances pointed out that the Generalitat’s investment plan represents a long-standing municipal aim that, with the support of Botany, has contributed to better finances, less bureaucracy, and renewed local autonomy. He urged the chairman of the Provincial Assembly to withdraw opposition and to listen to the municipalities so that progress can continue. The exchange underscored a broader clash over how funding and oversight should operate at the provincial level.
allegation
Rubén Alfaro, mayor of Elda and secretary of PSPV Corporate Affairs, called for an end to what he described as a siege and prosecution of the Cooperation Fund. He noted that the fund has been a tool desired by the Valencian Federation of Municipalities and Provinces since 1996. He echoed concerns that Mazón’s position could hinder municipalities from building up essential resources, arguing that the 100 million euros in question would grant greater freedom to the municipalities over time. Isabel López, mayor of Xixona, added that the Provincial Assembly has become a instrument used in the service of the PP, according to her assessment.
Carlos González, Elche’s councilor, reminded the crowd that the Cooperation Fund is included in the budget and rooted in the Community Autonomy Charter, a framework developed through law approved by the Cortes. He joined the charge that the PP-led government team is using the Provincial Assembly for partisan purposes, claiming this practice has caused serious, long-lasting damage to the municipalities. He stressed that the interests of citizens are at stake.
PP responds to the protests with a call for respect for provincial autonomy. Ana Serna, the second vice president at the state agency and its secretary general, described the demonstrations as a PSPV display of temper and a sign of disdain for provincial autonomy. Pablo Ruz, a local leader in Elche and a senator, accused council member Carlos González of participating in the rally to demand the Co-operative Fund while remaining silent about other ongoing financial concerns in the regional budget. Serna labeled the gathering as democratic theater, while noting that the presence of socialist mayors from across the country at Diputación gates was seen as bypassing provincial sovereignty. The TSJ of the Valencian Community had already paused the 13.4 million euro contribution to the Cooperation Fund for 2023 at the start of the month, reflecting the ongoing tension between the elected bodies over fiscal authority.
Ruz added that González’s attendance illustrated a broader pattern of political disloyalty, remarking that it was remarkable to see a councilor celebrate a large investment in Elche nine days after a wage increase was announced, suggesting a mix of political posturing and inconsistent priorities.