Expats hold the key in Spanish local elections

 

Certainly on a local level, muncipal election are almost always fought and won on the strength of local issues which effect local people, regardless of the political affiliation of the candidates standing.

Perhaps one of the things more evident in this election was the overwhelming number of non-Spanish residents willing to take a much more active role in local politics.

Lliber, a small village of just 722 registered voters in the Marina Alta area of Alicante saw an unusual alliance - termed a 'Pacto Civil' - between the governing PSOE and a number of Independant candidates, whereby out of a permissible maximum number of 9 seats, seats 2, 4, 6 and 8 were promised to the Independant candidates, who represented a range of both Spanish and northern european nationalities.

However, the Pacto Civil was unable to take overall victory, taking 4 of the seats. In a particularly cruel and frustrating result, with 33% of votes being either abstentions or nullified votes, the pacto lost by a mere 5 votes.

The neighbouring village of Parcent faired much better in the elections with the Village's CDP party (Democratic Coalition Party) taking 6 out of the 9 seats on the council with an impressive 67% of the votes.

Penny Clarke-Lapenna, one of a number of neighbours, with no real political affiliations or ambitions, agreed to stand in opposition to the PP to represent the town and the interests of the people. She told Tumbit how the party did not just re-gain the Town Hall, but did so by taking a staggering majority - a sign in confidence not just from ex-pats, but the wider Spanish community aswell : "The CDP has won the election in Parcent with a 195 vote majority, an increase from 40 in 2007. We are thrilled to see a solid vote for transparency and sustainability, achieved by a committed team of Spanish and European residents working together."

Regardless of the overall outcome, or result of the vote in the recent elections, the message here is clear - the expat vote, regardless of nationality, can not and should not be ignored in local Spanish elections.