Monday, 5th May was undoubtedly a successful day in terms of civic protest as around 300 residents came together to make their voices heard. However, while this turnout was encouraging, it is simply not enough. What Orihuela Costa needs is unity, a united community can become an unstoppable force for change. But unity doesn’t happen on its own. It requires the right leadership, someone capable of bringing together the many different groups that make up this unique community: various nationalities, businesses, associations, and residents of all backgrounds.
Unfortunately, throwing accusations at existing associations and their leaders does little to build that unity. Winning the support of the entire community means engaging more than just English-speaking residents. What we need isn’t just another protest movement, but a political force capable of governing, a party with vision and the capacity to shape the future of Orihuela Costa.
This is where the challenge lies. At present, there is no such person or party that has the widespread support and leadership needed to unify the coast. The PIOC performed well in the last election, thanks to the tireless efforts of Priscilla Cromie and myself, and with strong backing from the Leader newspaper—facts that speak for themselves.
However, following last year’s significant split within PIOC, I now face a question: how can I best serve Orihuela Costa as an Independent? Is it more effective to work within a party where real change is possible, or remain on the outside in opposition, where the chance of achieving tangible results is minimal?
Protest votes reflect widespread frustration – directed, justifiably, at Orihuela. But real change requires participation. Out of the 29,000 residents registered on the padrón, far more need to register to vote.
To truly shift the political landscape, at least 10,000 votes are needed to give any party a real mandate. Without that, an independent party has no realistic path to power, especially when traditional parties like the PP (Partido Popular) refuse to form coalitions with them.
The truth is, despite brief interruptions, the PP has governed Orihuela either with an outright majority or in coalition for the last two decades. During that time, they’ve consistently pushed policies that have sidelined and discriminated against Orihuela Costa.
The most frustrating part is that this bias is no longer hidden, it’s blatant. And yet, many continue to vote for the same parties out of habit or misplaced loyalty. It’s disheartening to watch people follow blindly, ignoring years of poor governance and false promises. The PP has long been the architect of political decline and diminishing standards in our municipality.
If we want something better, it’s time to think bigger, act smarter, and most importantly -vote for change.
