The PSOE of Torrevieja has expressed regret after the Partido Popular rejected a motion during the latest plenary session. The motion requested that the local council fulfil the commitments it publically assumes each year when reading the institutional declaration or manifesto for Pride Day.
According to the socialists, the issue lies in the clear contrast between what the ruling party reads on 28 June and their actions during the remaining 364 days of the year. The political group pointed out that the local council receives specific annual funding of 12,000 euro from the Generalitat via the Contrato Programa de Servicios Sociales. This money is designated to develop public LGTBI equality policies, which include creating a Municipal LGTBI Plan, training municipal staff, launching awareness campaigns, coordinating with the Orienta service, and working alongside collective entities.
However, municipal documentation highlights a very different reality. The socialists revealed that the subsidy was not executed at all in 2022, and was only partially used in 2023. In 2024, a significant portion remained unspent, and by 2025, the execution reached zero euro, resulting in the entire funding being returned, just as occurred in 2022. The PSOE argues that while the resources are budgeted and arrive at the town hall, they simply go unused.
The opposition stated that the local government cannot claim to meet its commitment to equality by merely hanging a rainbow flag on the balcony or reading a manifesto once a year while simultaneously returning the funds meant to turn those words into public policy.
During the plenary session, the Partido Popular defended its rejection by arguing that the council carries out numerous LGTBI activities, even mentioning an LGTBI retreat, though they did not detail the specific public policies being implemented. The PSOE countered that institutional agendas show almost all related activities are concentrated strictly around Pride and mostly consist of providing institutional support to third-party initiatives, rather than offering stable municipal actions throughout the year.
Furthermore, the PSOE highlighted that although the town council announced the creation of a Municipal LGTBI Plan in 2024, the plan remains unapproved two years later. The socialists rejected accusations from the Partido Popular that the motion aimed to cause confrontation or break the consensus of the institutional Pride declaration. They maintained that the motion simply demands the Partido Popular utilises the public resources it receives so that institutional commitments become a reality rather than a mere declaration of intent.
It should also be noted how the mayor of Torrevieja, Eduado Dolon, is rarely seen opening any of the LGBTi events in the town, despite his usual standard of seeing even the opening of an envelope to be a photo opportunity. His most recent backing of the community was making promises before the last elections, promises which, as usual, seem to be forgotten, but will no doubt resurface once again as we approach the next elections in May.
