Compromís, that unexpected ally

Now that things with Mexico are worse than ever thanks to the planetary historical event (Leire Pajín 'dixit') of the conjunction of progressive governments on both sides of the Atlantic, it is a good time to reconcile with this great country that holds enormous cultural heritage and listen to the great Vicente Fernández with that great ranchera 'El Rey': «It's not about arriving first. But you have to know how to arrive», sings the mariachi.

A maxim that, applied to the Alicante City Council, would correspond to Vox. The 'four of Abascal' were very happy in this legislature to pressure the popular government team. Luis Barcala was 24 hours short of obtaining an absolute majority, but he was left with 14 councilors, one short of having total freedom over municipal management.

Unlike in Valencia, it was not necessary for Vox to join the government team. Abascal's party is not, by any means, Ciudadanos. Their strong ideological component and Jacobin spirit make them less malleable, also less flexible, to the needs of each territory.

But it didn't matter. With some perks, the popular were convinced that Vox would be a reliable partner, like the oranges in the last legislature. As the ranchera sang, they were the first to arrive. The trouble came later.

It wasn't an issue of Alicante but directly from Madrid. Abascal is obsessed with upcoming general elections (they talk about February 2025) and distancing themselves from the PP, hence abandoning regional governments and some strong positions. In Alicante, this strategy translated into Vox's refusal to sign a public space occupation ordinance that extended terrace hours when it was already drafted. The excuse was points against gender violence during festivals.

Vox wanted to change the name to something like mobile complaint offices, useful for both sexual assaults and thefts. But Alicante City Council has non-negotiable obligations with the State Pact against Gender Violence and the PP could not overlook this demand from Vox.

The one who knew how to arrive here was Compromís, who stole the toast from PSPV, even from their political cousin EU-Podem, Manolo Copé. The progressive spokesperson, Rafa Mas, supported the PP's initiative in exchange for "cutting half an hour" off terrace hours. He believed this would ingratiate himself with downtown residents, mostly popular voters, although it seems that the reaction from hospitality has scared him. In last September's ordinary plenary session, Compromís blamed Vox for not supporting the PP and restricting terrace hours, one of Alicante's main attractions.

After Vox's walkout, the PP has managed to carry out municipal management with that variable geometry invented by Zapatero. Yesterday with Compromís; today with Vox with Low Emission Zone without fines and tomorrow?...

It seems that Compromís, or rather Rafa Mas, is crazy about continuing to support the municipal government. One day stick and another carrot. This is the suspicion that hangs around municipal corridors: that the nationalist spokesperson (although he doesn't like this term) has lamented not having had a say in the Low Emission Zone and will be willing to approve the municipal budget.

The first ones who are suspicious are those from Vox themselves. The deputy spokesperson for the municipal group, Mario Ortolá, even verbalized it in plenary: «You are going to approve the municipal budget in exchange for La Británica and a few more beds at CAI», according to session minutes. If this hypothesis continues, it better explains the patient and even understanding attitude of the mayor-president towards Compromís' spokesperson during plenaries.

This Monday, Deputy Mayor Manuel Villar and Finance Councilor Toni Gallego meet with Compromís to present them with the municipal budget. The coalition's response to this meeting will give clues as to whether finally, municipal accounts will be approved before year-end; a goal that government team assures will happen.