PSOE turns its back on Diputación to blame Government for state discrimination with AVE
In Alicante, the ordinary plenary session in September addressed a coordinated effort by the ruling parties to aid towns in Vall d’Ebo and other areas scorched by last summer’s forest fires. The alliance between the Partido Popular, Ciudadanos and the PSOE moved forward with a plan to back municipalities affected by the fires, while Compromís chose not to participate. The decision drew reactions from local leaders who argued that the provincial investment should be more substantial given the material impact of the blazes. Ana Serna, the second vice president and head of the Water Cycle portfolio, acknowledged the willingness to find common ground on a matter of high importance, even as critics debated the adequacy of the funding level.
During the presentation of the agreement, the Special Provincial Administration team outlined how the approved plan would be made accessible to all affected zones. A technical team would be formed to consult, advise, and draft projects for funding applications offered by the Generalitat, the central government, and the provincial agency itself. The plan also includes subsidies designed to promote the affected municipalities, with up to 30,000 euros available per locality. There would be targeted initiatives to boost tourism in the affected districts, with a total direct investment of 420,000 euros and a parallel indirect commitment of 420,000 euros, amounting to a combined total of 840,000 euros. Open Change, proposed by Compromís, faced criticism for what some described as a lack of rigor and seriousness. The PSOE spokesperson stated support for the motion because it incorporated socialist proposals, while noting that more could be done by the mayor of Alcoy to advance the agenda.
In the broader context, the debate also touched on the political dynamics between the provincial administration and the central government. The session highlighted calls for a robust response to the forest fires that struck Vall d’Ebo and surrounding towns, with officials emphasizing the need for coordinated measures that could deliver timely relief and longer-term resilience. The dialogue underscored concerns about how resources are allocated and the pace at which aid reaches affected neighbors, reflecting ongoing tensions between provincial authorities and other political actors involved in disaster response.
Separately, Compomís put forward another forest-fire proposal that had not yet moved forward in the agenda. During discussions on this item, Miguel Ángel Sánchez, the Popular Party’s representative for the Environment, suggested withdrawing the motion on the grounds that it relied on budgetary mechanisms. The Valencia Provincial Council and Alicante authorities argued that the proposal was not accurate and contained several errors in the figures. A Valencian spokesperson reiterated that municipalities had not yet received assistance and noted that numerous towns impacted by the summer fires in Vall d’Ebo were still awaiting help. Source notes indicate these positions reflect ongoing debates about how quickly aid should be delivered and how to measure its effectiveness on the ground.