In the final hours before the decisive full local authority meeting on Saturday, the Socialists reached a last minute deal with the GANAR, left wing platform, to make José Velez the Mayor and to govern with an absolute majority.
The new local government will have four full time, paid councillors, including the Mayor, and one of these will be Ricardo Garcia, the GANAR candidate.
The negotiations, which continued through Friday night and early morning between the ruling PSOE and GANAR, were necessary because local voters scattered their votes amongst the five parties running. The PSOE were the most voted party, with eight seats, and GANAR, secured one seat. The pact between the two parties gives the PSOE a working majority.
The news that the two parties were working towards agreement was released on Thursday night but was not but finalized until the last minute as GANAR insisted on material from its election manifesto being included in this year´s municipal programme. GANAR also wanted two paid councillors for the PSOE and one for GANAR.
According to GANAR the party “compromised on this last point and accepted three for the PSOE and one for GANAR because the primary necessity was to establish a stable, government team to work for the town which was facing a difficult social situation.”
The proposals of GANAR included in the municipal programme include: assistance for families in risk of exclusión with household bills, medicine and education; active policies to prevent the re-possession of homes; transparency and open government; to examine the need for an external audit; publication of details of the municipal patrimony; measures to create employment; an agricultural land bank for local residents and associations; and to start a “nursery” for new businesses.
It is the first time in the history of democracy in Calasparra that five parties are represented on the local authority and that two parties have formed a coalition in order to govern. (The full list of representatives is featured below.)
Accepting the ceremonial “baton” José Velez said he looked forward to governing with stability and enthusiasm and promised a government which was closer and more accesible to residents.
Ricardo Garcia underlined that part of the pact with the PSOE was to ensure that some of the GANAR electoral programme became reality in Calasparra.
PSOE:
José Vélez Fernández
María del Carmen López Alba
Antonio José Merino Moreno
Teresa García Sánchez
Jordi Arce Corbalán
Paqui Sánchez Moreno
Antonio José Moreno Gil
Esperanza López Abril
Partido Popular:
Miguel Martínez Alcázar
María Marín Salinas
Asunción Escavy
Calasparra Viva:
Alonso Torrente
Juana María Avilés Martínez
Catalina Moya Ródenas
Ciudadanos:
Jesús Alajarín Cascales
Juan Fajardo Olivares
Ganar Galasparra:
Ricardo García
The names of the paid councillors and their salaries will be debated at the next full local authority meeting.
