Residents of Orihuela Costa are once again voicing their dissatisfaction with decades of neglect as they continue to threaten to pursue segregation from the city unless public services are improved.
Representatives from Unidos por la Costa met at the Coworking Space of the Orihuela Chamber last week with the president of the association Entre Dos Mares Pro Ayuntamiento. This association is spearheading efforts to separate 15 population centres, including La Manga and surrounding areas, in order to establish an independent City Council separate from those of San Javier and Cartagena.
The neighbourhood organization of Unidos por la Costa pointed out that the two regions face similar challenges, including being distant from decision-making centres, making substantial contributions to municipal income without receiving adequate investments in return, and experiencing significant deficiencies in public services.
They also highlighted years of broken promises by municipal governments, overcrowding during the summer, widespread public disillusionment, and a shared desire for self-governance to shape their own future.
Following the mandate of its members during the last assembly, Unidos por la Costa is actively evaluating the legal options available to secure the autonomy and identity needed for Orihuela Costa, with segregation being one of the main possibilities under review.
An alternative path being considered involves forming a voter group. This option stems from the belief that the current municipal political parties lack significant representativeness in the region, as the membership of Unidos por la Costa surpasses the number of votes obtained by any of the existing parties. This approach would involve creating a temporary political party backed by at least 1,700 signatures, which would dissolve at the end of the term.
The results of the May 2023 municipal elections further reflect this lack of representation. Out of the 3,464 votes cast on the coast, the Popular Party (PP) received 26.2%, Vox received 11.2%, PSOE obtained 12.1%, Cambiemos earned 6.8%, and Ciudadanos garnered 5.1%.
Meanwhile, the Orihuela Costa Independence Party (PIOC) secured 38.6% of the votes, narrowly missing the threshold to gain a council seat. This figure surpassed the combined votes of the two governing parties, which collectively earned 37.4%.
In contrast, three opposition parties that collectively received 832 votes remain without meaningful influence, while the PIOC, the most-voted party, holds no representation at all.
Low voter turnout further complicates matters, with only 3,464 ballots cast out of 7,069 registered voters, leaving a 51% abstention rate. These figures underscore the frustrations of Orihuela Costa residents and the pressing need to address their concerns, whether through enhanced representation, increased autonomy, or segregation.
