“The PP doesn’t care about us!” That’s the stinging accusation fired by Alain Vandenbergen, a fiery 75-year-old Belgian councillor living on Spain’s Costa Blanca, as he helps hand over the keys to the San Fulgencio mayor’s office – to the PSOE.
Vandenbergen, who’s lived in Spain for 26 years, has become the unlikely kingmaker in a dramatic vote of no confidence that will oust the current mayor, José María Ballester (PP), on June 18.
His reason? The PP’s cold shoulder to the sprawling urbanisations that make up the heart of San Fulgencio – home to thousands of expats, mostly from northern Europe.
“They don’t want to know anything about the urbanisations,” Vandenbergen blasts. “But they’re the ones who pay the bills!”
Indeed, over 95% of the council’s revenue comes from taxes on these sun-drenched residential areas like La Marina, El Oasis, and La Escuera – where foreign retirees outnumber Spanish residents two-to-one.
From Sunbed to Powerbroker
Vandenbergen could’ve been sipping sangria in retirement. Instead, he jumped into politics—first with Ciudadanos, then with a group called PIPN (Independent Party for the Nationalities), a nod to the area’s massive foreign population.
Now, he’s thrown his weight behind José Sampere of the PSOE, the former mayor promising real action for the expat zones: cleaner streets, pest control, public safety, and—crucially – rescuing over 30 green zones currently rotting away due to a bureaucratic black hole.
See also: San Fulgencio Mayor ousted
The MASA Mess
At the heart of the dispute: a planning disaster left behind by 1980s developer MASA, which built over 6,000 homes but left parks and gardens in legal limbo – labelled as “private” land the town hall won’t touch. Now they’re overrun with weeds, trash, and neglect.
Vandenbergen says the PSOE has committed, in writing, to finally take responsibility and clean them up. Ballester’s PP? “Not interested,” he says bluntly.
Ousted—but Not Out
The feud reached boiling point this week when Ballester stripped Vandenbergen of his council roles in finance, urban cleaning, and parks – roles he’s likely to reclaim after the June 18 vote.
Technically, he’s not a political turncoat, he insists – he switched to the non-aligned group just minutes before the no-confidence motion was filed.
Money Talks, Urbanisations Walk
While Ballester insists legal roadblocks prevent immediate action, Vandenbergen says the time for excuses is over.
“These areas get streetlights and roads. Why not maintenance too?”
He’s adamant: urbanisations must get their fair share. He also makes it clear he’s not in it for the money – his council salary is just €500 a month, as he lives on his Belgian pension.
The Countdown Begins
So, with just days left until the vote, Ballester has already said his goodbyes, proud of his “two years of work.” But for Vandenbergen and the thousands of expats he claims to represent, the real work – of getting urbanisations the services they pay for and deserve – is just beginning.
Watch this space: San Fulgencio’s sleepy politics just woke up.
