Motion for de-centralisation of finances and administration of Orihuela defeated by PP-Ciudadanos governing coalition
To the great disappointment of those hoping to see the reform of the system of government of Orihuela and a fairer system of finances and administration, a Motion proposing radical de-centralisation of the municipality was cynically defeated in this week’s Plenary council meeting by the governing coalition of the Popular Party and Ciudadanos.
The Cambiemos party, with the support of other opposition parties, C.L.A.R.O. and neighbourhood associations in Orihuela Costa, presented a proposal to de-centralise the over centralised system of government of Orihuela and to recognise that in a diverse and dispersed municipality like Orihuela, with a capital city and surrounding villages 30 kilometres distant from the coast, it was vital to bring government close to the people.
At present decision-making, financial resources, local government personnel and police are concentrated in the capital city.
This has produced an unfair and discriminatory system with under-spending on services and investment in Orihuela Costa. Close to the people is the first principal of C.L.A.R.O policy and the party has advocated de-centralisation since its formation.
In the past, Orihuela based political parties have prioritised the interests of the city and certain surrounding villages where they obtain voting support, at the expense of Orihuela Costa which provides over 50% of municipal government income but receives disproportionately less spending.
This results in our familiar lack of services like adequate street cleaning, properly maintained parks and gardens and lack of infrastructure such as an Emergency Services Centre, theatre, library, footbridges over the motorway and N332 and only one medical centre for a taxpaying population greater than Orihuela city.
The proposal to the Plenary council was to study how to overcome this unfair and over-centralised system and introduce de-centralised government such as exists in many areas of Spain.
It was completely cynical for the governing coalition parties, who have done nothing in the last four years to correct the deficiencies and discrimination from which we suffer, to defeat this proposal arguing that it was too close to the municipal elections in May to consider such a radical change.
On the contrary, we hope that de-centralisation will become a major issue in the forthcoming election campaign and that a change of government will lead to the adoption of a much needed and fairer system of de-centralised government for Orihuela.
