Elections and cement-mixers
We all know the drill by now, it's local election time and after almost four years chasing your mayor and councillors to do something, suddenly they are chasing you to do it… or at least give you their most ‘trust-worthy’ promise they will sort it all out over the next four years with the only condition you hand over your vote.
In election periods not so far away it was common to see all pending roadworks, new council leisure centres, buildings, parks and even benches officially ‘inaugurated’ in the months leading up to the ballot – this was until the Junta Electoral Central (national body ruling on elections and campaigns) ruled this was ‘electioneering’ on behalf of those already in office and banned such events. So nowadays we get no ‘official openings’ until after the elections have taken place.
But cunning as our politicians are – at least for this – they have managed to get around it. This week, and until the May elections, we will be seeing mayors and councillors ‘visiting’ every single project underway. And our offices will be flooded with press releases practically demanding our presence to publicise that fact that your ‘Alcalde’ and ‘concejal’ has put a hardhat on and ‘inspected’ a project that will be finished…you’ve guessed it: the week before the election is held.
We admit some have been more successful than others when it comes to achieving this. Let’s take the clashing examples of neighbouring Benidorm and Finestrat.
In Finestrat, La Cala residents have been upset for months by road works to install a much-needed storm drain that avoids flashfloods which have been fatal on more than one occasion. The necessary improvement has caused great inconvenience to residents in the area, and visitors too. However, and praise were praise is due, the mayor has come true on his promise the road to the town’s main tourist area and the beach itself will be fully operational come Easter. So he will be ‘officially inspecting’ these almost finished works over the next few weeks – in all fairness we must point out that he had done so practically every month since the work started, so the ‘election trip’ is really no exception.
Meanwhile, work carried out on improvements to roads around the commercial boulevard is also complete and shoppers have hardly been inconvenienced. Another hugebudget scheme that has finished on time, another ‘official inspection’ coming up before the elections.
But while Finestrat seems to have scheduled everything with Swiss-precision, Benidorm has managed to do quite the opposite.
Admittedly, if Mayor Pérez wants to ‘officially inspect’ road works around the town he will be able to do so, not just in every town district, but practically and the end of every road! The sad part is, for Benidorm and its precious tourism income at least, that very little will be complete in time for the busy Easter week – which also becomes a thermometer to gauge the summer performance.
Holidaymakers will find the Plaza de la Hispanidad (still Triangular for locals) resembling Raqa, as do large sections of the busy Avenida Mediterraneo and Avenida Europa. The Rincón de Loix tourism area has seen many businesses shutting shop because of the main Avenida Ametla de Mar road works that have also had a huge impact on businesses in adjoining streets such as Calle Londres and Gerona. None of these are ‘near completion’ so plenty to inspect by mayor and councillors, but not a lot to be proud of. It is practically impossible for holidaymakers to get from their hotel or apartment to the beach without stumbling across a roadwork trench, a work fence, cone, detour or ‘salida de obras’ sign. Some of them will be tucked away for a week in Easter to ‘save face’ but the eyesore will remain.
In other towns councils have been going around their usual business but some have already had slap on the wrist by the Junta Electoral Central for using council resources to publicise their achievements over the past four years. This week, Benitachell mayor Miquel García received a warning and has been told to remove reference to several recent projects from official council websites. But this is nothing new, in fact, Sr García is the third mayor in the Marina Alta alone to have received warnings from the Junta in recent weeks… Jávea and Benissa mayors were the other two.
But fear not, until May 26 we will be flooded with official worksite inspections, achievement reports and new project promises. So get it now while you have a chance!