The Left Unites in Alicante City Council to Defend the Medicine Degree at UA

The left-wing groups represented in the Alicante City Council are uniting to defend the continuity of the Medicine degree at the University of Alicante (UA). The Socialist Municipal Group, Compromís, and Esquerra Unida-Podem have signed an institutional declaration that will be debated in the next plenary session, aiming for the Alicante City Council to "express unwavering support for the continuity of the Medicine degree at this academic institution." This move will compel Mayor Luis Barcala, a member of the Popular Party, to take a stance on the Consell's initiative to create a provincial health campus.

Socialist spokesperson Ana Barceló criticized the mayor's absence from an event held at the academic institution on Thursday: "Some absences speak volumes, and Barcala chose not to attend the UA's academic year inauguration. The mayor did not dare to disavow Mazón to defend the Faculty of Medicine and the interests of all Alicante residents. The City Council, which represents all of us, must offer unwavering support to the university and its students in the face of attacks from the Generalitat Valenciana. It is unprecedented for a government to pit public universities against each other."

Compromís councilor Sara LLobel stated that "the academic year is starting at UA, and it is disrespectful that the Mayor of Alicante was not present at a time when UA needs everyone's support against attacks on its Medicine degree by the Valencian government."

Esquerra Unida-Podem spokesperson Manolo Copé added: "Alicante natives Mazón, Barcala, and Rovira are directly attacking the rights of the University of Alicante and its academic autonomy. They are embarrassing us, and instead of defending current and future students' interests, they twist legal rights to serve private interests with undue interference in how studies are organized and attack public education once again. We fully support whatever decision is made by the University of Alicante."