Juan Francisco Ortiz and Carla Vidal, both members of the People’s Party (PP) council in Guardamar del Segura, have stepped down from their positions. Their resignations will take effect at the next normal plenary session. The PP’s municipal group, which has six seats and is the major opposition to the Socialist Party (PSOE) government group led by Mayor José Luis Sáez, made this announcement.
As soon as she heard about the resignations, Marisol Gallud, president of the local Popular Party and de facto spokesperson for the municipal group, sent out a message on social media thanking both of them for their work over the past few years of keeping an eye on the Government team and welcoming their replacements.
For personal and work-related reasons
Gallud said that both people left for personal and work-related reasons. Carla Vidal, a lawyer, can’t be a court clerk and a City Council member at the same time. Ortiz, on the other hand, took a well-thought-out decision based on personal grounds. He had been a councillor for a long time and had also worked in government during the 2011–2015 period.
Ángel Braceras and Alberto Paredes
The resignations will go into effect at the next regular plenary meeting. Alberto Paredes and Ángel Braceras will be the new councillors that will fill the empty spots.
The latter led a strong effort, separate from party politics, against the rules that regulate how public space can be used for outdoor seating spaces. The PSOE’s majority administration put these rules into place, which caused a lot of debate. The City Council has now gotten most restaurant and bar owners to take down their permanent structures and other outdoor furnishings. This frees up public space for parking when the businesses are closed.
Opposition
Being in opposition is always a thankless job in any government, but it’s even worse in small and medium-sized towns and cities, because they don’t have the money to pay people for their work. This is much more true when they are up against a government that has a clear majority.
For instance, the PP municipal group has had to unofficially give the spokesperson role to the PP president, Marisol Gallud, since Toñi Mora, the group’s spokesperson and mayoral candidate, became the medical director of the Torrevieja health department after the 2023 elections.
Something that is always justified by professional and personal reasons, but is shown by the losses in its ranks.
Carlos Guzmán, the United Left councillor and party’s main candidate, likewise quit a few weeks ago for personal and professional reasons. Álex Mas Cortes, the third person on the electoral list, has taken his place after the second person on that list turned down the job.
Author: Derek Appleton
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