mayoral candidates villena: Fulgencio Cerdan for PSOE; Miguel Ángel Salguero for PP and Francisco Iniesta for European Greens demonstrated in the election debate organized by INFORMATION and TV Information agreements on the city’s strategic issues: protection of aquifers, support of the agricultural, industrial and commercial sectors, control of the implementation of photovoltaic power plants, development of the dry port of the Mediterranean Corridor and implementation of the Logistics Operations Zone in the bullilla industrial zone.
Villena seeks to join a European project to strengthen its role as a logistics hub
In a restrained gathering, differences centered on the municipal management model, with the PP challenging the government partners of PSOE and Verdes. The economic dialogue focused on the overuse of Villena’s aquifers. For Miguel Ángel Salguero, it is essential to prevent farmers and water users in Alto Vinalopó from bearing the brunt of this situation. “For more than a century they have generously sent water to the shores of Alicante, Medio and Baix Vinalopó, and they were not the ones who created the current issue.” He argues that they should not shoulder the burden of replacing water that is no longer extracted from wells through other means, such as desalination or the Júcar-Vinalopó transfer.
The government approves a plan to shut down overused Vinalopó wells within a year
closure of water wells
The mayor, Fulgencio Cerdán, stated, “The water is drawn relentlessly without clear municipal benefit. Villena’s farmers should not feel harmed, and before pumping stops to irrigate local crops, measures must be in place to replace them.” He spoke during a mediation with the City Council as the local PP proposed a motion against the wells’ closure. “This motion did not originate from Villena’s PP; it marked a victory for the whole city, a sentiment we all share,” declared the socialist candidate.
The Greens emphasize that political diversity within a coalition strengthens governance, even when disagreements arise.
Francisco Iniesta, a prominent voice from the Greens over the last two terms, argued that it is unfair to treat all wells identically when the Ministry directs closures. In his view, the burden should be fair and proportional: “Either a cheaper water price is implemented in Villena or water resources are managed so that certain areas do not face disproportionate restrictions.” He underscored that all three parties work with irrigators to defend Villena’s interests, its agriculture, and the broader region.
PSOE in Villena targets an outright majority with a strong nomination
dry port of the Mediterranean Corridor
On the common agenda, PSOE, PP and European Greens align on advancing the dry port and logistics node. Villena, and nearby Novelda too, share a favorable climate for business and trade, with a clear emphasis on supporting trade and industry. While Cerdán proposes reorienting the production model toward a land port and expanded logistics, Iniesta notes that the initiative is not the sole driver: Villena enjoys a thriving local trade and small businesses, and the project would complement them to boost employment. The partnership already includes multinational players, and the governance challenge is to balance industrial growth with a robust agricultural sector, described as a cornerstone for the local economy.
The PSOE highlights broad consensus between government and opposition on Villena’s challenges.
In this sense, Iniesta praised the work of the economic development cabinet, while Salguero sees the Logistics Operations Zone as a complement to the city’s other economic sectors. “Long-term gains require a strategy rooted in development and economic growth, plus political agreement where possible. If major points align, there is room for progress. Villena needs land for small and medium-sized companies, and there is abundant talent; guiding entrepreneurs remains essential,” he stated.
municipal licenses
Licensing delays emerged as a recurring topic during the debate. The mayor acknowledged a lengthy backlog, with some licenses unresolved for 25 years, but noted significant improvement, citing seven monthly issues resolved and ten more cleared.
A series of photovoltaic projects in Villena demonstrated the broad consensus among PSOE, PP, and the Greens, though with notable variations in emphasis.
PP mayor in Villena unveils his economic team to back his candidacy
photovoltaic plants
Only 12 of 34 proposed solar installations are currently underway. “Parcels of the city have been cleared by the Urban Planning and Environment departments, cutting through the debris. We support streamlining licenses, but selectively if landscapes would be harmed,” Cerdán commented. “It’s encouraging that the mayor agreed to pause licenses in some cases, even when one group opposed changing the partial plan at the plenary a month ago.”
Villena dismisses claims for three solar plants at the foot of Sierra Salinas
For the PP candidate, a unified mayoral stance on the mega-project is essential since it affects the entire district. “We’ve pursued this for two years and, while progress seems possible, the next steps remain to be seen.” Iniesta argued that city assemblies must have authority to regulate the territory and decide on the implementation of mega solar plants, noting that the Generalitat’s decrees have sometimes disappeared, enabling many plants with mixed outcomes. Salguero added that the issue stems from limited tools at the municipal level; better support from the Generalitat could help.
Municipalization of services without adequate guarantees is a red line for the People’s Party.
government deals
As talks about forming government majorities continue, the PSOE shows openness to broad alliances, even when they are not absolute. The Greens have previously aligned with the PSOE, and the parties agree that governance should prioritize concrete projects aligned to Villena’s development model rather than raw numbers.
The most ambitious reform of the Villena garden plan starts at Parque del Mercado
Although ideologically distant from the PP, the Greens emphasize independence and environmental priorities. The aim is to reach agreements on issues beneficial to Villena, even if the center and right segments vote differently. Cerdán believes the left remains willing to debate and negotiate, and trusts the right to sign certain agreements. He concludes that Villena has avoided major friction between government and opposition, allowing pragmatic deals when needed, and that a spirit of partnership and respect for differing views prevailed.