The council gives the green light to a new budget of nearly €117 million, with support from the PP, Vox, and Ciudadanos in an extraordinary session that also names Amadeo Valoria as Caballero Cubierto.
Orihuela now has its second consecutive budget in less than a year, after not updating its financial plan since 2018. In an extraordinary session held on Friday, the council approved a new budget of nearly €117 million, with votes in favor from the PP, Vox, and Ciudadanos, while the PSOE and Cambiemos voted against it.
The opposition highlighted the rejection of six objections presented by a private citizen and five municipal employees. Quique Montero, from Cambiemos, criticized the government for ignoring concerns raised by city employees regarding salary discrepancies and pay grades for the same work. He described the issue as a “chronic and endemic problem” and questioned why this matter remained unaddressed while the budget included new executive positions—four senior roles costing €400,000—and salaries for municipal company managers. “Why them and not the workers?” he asked.
Political Tensions Over Budget Approval
José Aix, spokesperson for Ciudadanos, predicted that this would be the last budget passed during the current administration, arguing that “political maneuvering has already begun within the government team.” He suggested that Vox would soon demand the inclusion of its priorities, which were missing from this budget.
Carolina Gracia, spokesperson for the PSOE, criticized the coalition government for ignoring her party’s proposed amendments, which allocated €1 million to social policies. “Consensus and agreements are not their strong suit,” she remarked, adding that despite their claims of expertise, the government had achieved little. She argued that the new budget had not resulted in visible improvements, but four months after securing a €41 million loan, the city was already paying €350,300 in interest. She questioned, “How many projects have actually been launched?”
Víctor Valverde, spokesperson for the PP, defended the budget, stating that “over €15 million is currently being executed.” He acknowledged the long-standing issues with municipal employees but argued that the government had taken the first step toward resolving them by allocating over €5 million to personnel expenses, including restructuring job classifications and implementing a professional career framework. Montero, however, remained skeptical, suggesting that some officials preferred to maintain disorder for their own benefit.
Meanwhile, Manuel Mestre of Vox simply expressed his support for the budget without further comment.
Amadeo Valoria Named Caballero Cubierto
The council also approved the appointment of Amadeo Valoria as Caballero Cubierto Porta-Estandarte for the Santo Entierro de Cristo procession, which will take place on April 19. The nomination, proposed by Mayor Pepe Vegara and presented by Festivities Councilor Rocío Ortuño, was supported by the PP, PSOE, Vox, and Ciudadanos, while Cambiemos abstained.
Ortuño praised Valoria’s “professional, social, and humanitarian prestige.” Valoria, who attended the session with his wife, received the honor in recognition of his dedication to Orihuela, his passion for local traditions, and his strong ties to Semana Santa (Holy Week).
The title of Caballero Cubierto is a historic role dating back to 1620, granting the honor of leading the Holy Saturday procession while remaining covered when passing the cathedral.
Montero acknowledged that the appointment was “fair and well-deserved” but reiterated his party’s stance of abstaining from votes on religious matters to uphold the separation of church and state.
Aix remarked that “in times of dehumanization, recognizing a humanist is the right choice,” while Mestre praised Valoria’s professional and personal reputation, as well as his contributions to Orihuela’s Semana Santa.
Luis Quesada of the PSOE expressed his party’s enthusiasm for the nomination, describing Valoria as a deeply rooted Orihuela native devoted to local traditions. He highlighted Valoria’s distinguished career as a psychiatrist, his involvement in cultural and social activities, and his love for music and literature, calling him “an invaluable asset” to the community.
Changes to the Urban Agenda and European Fun
The council also approved modifications to its urban agenda, initially passed in May last year, to align with funding requirements for the Estrategias Integrales Locales (EDIL). The municipality aims to secure €20 million in European funds for its Integrated Action Plan, which includes nine projects for urban rehabilitation and improving disadvantaged neighborhoods.
The opposition questioned the feasibility of these plans, casting doubt on the partnership between the PP and Vox. They pointed out contradictions between the urban agenda’s objectives and Vox’s stance on climate change and gender violence, both of which the far-right party denies. Additionally, concerns were raised over the coalition government’s ability to effectively manage and execute the projects, given past failures to secure funding under the Edusi program.
