center right merge
The local political scene in Sant Joan d’Alacant is shifting as Cs members depart and align with the center-right. The mayor, Santiago Román, alongside Marcos Piña and José Luis Olcina, have left Citizens and accepted the invitation from the local People’s Party leadership to coordinate efforts ahead of municipal elections. This move follows Román’s departure from the PSOE after more than three years in coalition government with the Socialists. The trio agreed to join the People’s Party in a bid to consolidate the center-right and present a united front in the upcoming vote.
Román, Piña and Olcina requested admission to the group of unaffiliated councilors within the Sant Joan d’Alacant City Council, where their ally and deputy Julia Parra already sits. Their withdrawal from Cs came with a formal registration to join the non-affiliated group, marking a clear realignment that reflects months of speculation about voters and voters’ preferences in this municipality.
Observers note that Román’s return to the People’s Party would mark a renewal of ties with a party he left in 2015 due to disagreements with what is now the PP spokesperson, Manuel Alcaraz. All signs point to Román standing as the PP’s candidate in the municipal elections scheduled for May 28, a development widely discussed in local political circles.
Sant Joan’s political center-right unification project now includes Román, Piña and Olcina alongside Julia Parra in the council group formed by non-affiliated councilors. The city’s center-right coalition gained momentum in recent weeks after Cs Sant Joan declined to present joint lists with the PP. With Cs not participating in a united slate, the three councilors chose to leave Cs and support the center-right alliance ahead of the elections.
As a result, Román, Piña and Olcina join Julia Parra to form a four-member bloc of former Ciudadanos representatives who operate outside party affiliation within the City Council. Román described the move as a strategic response to the local political climate, arguing that unifying the center-right in Sant Joan is the best path forward. He asserted that the PSOE, Compromís, and Podemos would not deliver the stability residents deserve after several years of governance that he views as unfavorable. In his view, this realignment represents a necessary shift away from what he characterizes as the negative consequences of a left-wing coalition in the town and beyond.
Román’s political journey has been a long one. He served in the municipal government from 2015 to 2019, initially with PSOE, later aligning with AB and Compromís in different configurations. He then joined Cs in 2019, winning control of four council seats and the mayoralty, before ultimately signing with PSOE and leaving that party earlier this year. The present maneuver signals his readiness to return to the front line as Sant Joan’s mayoral candidate under the PP banner, where he also serves as city spokesperson.
Román’s arrival on the scene in the summer of 2021 was seen by many as a precursor to his pending return to the PP. The arrangement that followed the 2019 elections kept PSOE in the mayoralty for the first two years, with Cs taking over the last two. Román’s inauguration was noted by observers as the emergence of a prominent local politician who carried the momentum of a larger political reunion. The moment was marked by a warm reception from key party figures, including PP provincial president Carlos Mazón, who offered a hug that signaled a broader political rapprochement and the easing of long-running tensions among center-right forces in the region.
The evolving dynamic in Sant Joan d’Alacant highlights the ongoing recalibration occurring within the local center-right, as candidates seek to maximize their appeal to voters ahead of the May 28 election. The coalition-building effort aims to present a cohesive alternative to the current administration and to address the concerns of residents who crave more stable governance and clearer policy directions. The changes unfold against a backdrop of broader national questions about how regional coalitions shape the national political landscape and influence the balance of power in local councils.
In this context, Román’s leadership and the collective move of Piña and Olcina are poised to redefine the contest. They bring a track record of governance and a shared belief in unifying the center-right in Sant Joan, presenting a narrative of renewal and pragmatic collaboration. The coming weeks are expected to reveal more about how the new alignment will influence campaign strategies, policy priorities, and the responses of voters who have watched the political chessboard shift repeatedly in this coastal town.
Román’s trajectory remains closely watched by political observers, as his experience across multiple parties has shaped a distinctive approach to governance. His return to the PP signals a renewed focus on centrist, stability-oriented governance that his supporters believe will better serve Sant Joan’s diverse neighborhoods and communities. With the center-right coalition now positioned to present a unified front, the municipal elections will likely serve as a key referendum on the direction of Sant Joan’s future, with Román at the helm of a renewed PP effort to shape local policy and leadership for years to come.