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south EDITION roundtownnews.com
Issue 695
8 - 14 february 2013
Orihuela Costa: nothing but a political football IN TERMS of local politics, the Orihuela Costa finds itself in a different and difficult political position to almost anywhere else in Spain. It’s now ruled by a minority government without any real power! by Keith Nicol After the shock defeat of the long ruling conservative Partido Popular of Monica Lorente in May 2011, many an eyebrow was raised with the announcement of a Tri-Party Coalition between the PSOE, Greens and the interesting coalition within the coalition of CLARO and CLR. Less than two years later the bubble seems to have burst with Orihuela Mayor Monserrate Guillén seeming to finally lose patience with former Councillor for the Coast and Tourism Pedro Mancebo, from whom he took away all of his powers last week, which was followed by the resignation of other CLR members. Monserrate Guillén said his reasons for stripping Mancebo of his powers were because he wasn’t a team player; he didn’t attend meetings; he didn’t do his job properly; he trespassed on the responsibilities of other councillors; he wanted to take the glory for what others did; he was dictatorial; he had no respect for others and that he wanted to run the show or at least give the impression that he did! These were the words used by the Mayor of Orihuela about Pedro Mancebo in his press conference on 31 January announcing that he had sacked Pedro from his government. Monserrate Guillén made it clear that he was singling out Pedro but the other CLR Councillors, elected and non-
President of the PP Executive Pepa Ferrando with Monica Lorente and Bob Houliston
elected, resigned the same day. The outcome of this infighting has resulted in the remaining two parties, the ruling PSOE and Green Party continuing their coalition, however as a minority. Together they now have a total of nine votes against the twelve of the Partido Popular. As far as Mayor Guillén is concerned, he will continue to rule over Orihuela as a minority government, with councillors continuing to take a full salary, knowing full well that without the support of the PP, he is unable to get any of his plans or bills passed in council! In a press conference held in the lobby of the Playa Flamenca Town Hall on Wednesday, former Mayor Monica Lorente and Bob Houliston stated that it was their intention to work closely
together, with Lorente saying that she fully recognized the importance that the Orihuela Costa has on the entire dimension of Orihuela and that “today is the first of what will become regular visits to the coast.” Such is Lorente’s newly found commitment towards the coast, that the next PP executive meeting will be held on the Orihuela Costa. Houliston and Lorente announced that it was their intention to rule “with an executive from the opposition” to “rebuild what has been stolen from the tripartite citizenship through investment and budget changes”, which they are able to do, as being the majority, they will hold presidential control over every area of committee in Orihuela Town Hall. Continued on page 6