The programs of the Dénia partners faced: the common points and the pitfalls for the agreement

There is already an agreement between Compromís y PSPV. The Dénia government will once again have a progressive coalition between both formations, as already happened in 2015. But it will not be a new Acord del Castell, since many things have changed since then. In addition, they still have to specify several important points for this association. And not only at the level of distribution of departments, but also to develop the roadmap for the new City Council.

Rafa Carrió, on the left, and Vicent Grimalt, on the right, during the electoral campaign

The news has already been given: there is an agreement to share the Mayor's Office. Three years for Grimalt, one for Carrió. One year for every three councilors contributed to the new government. Fair enough. What is still unknown are the powers of each of the members of the executive and into whose hands the councils will fall.

However, before determining this, both formations must specify their objectives, all the promises that they will keep at any cost, and those that will remain in the drawer in order to reach common ground. That is the end of a negotiation. And it does not seem impossible to fulfill. Let's be clear, the Compromís program and the PSPV presented for the elections are not exactly day and night, something that they themselves recognize. It seems easy to reach common ground with so many similarities. But they will also have to do without some projects in which they do not agree so much, and that will be the most tricky part of the negotiations. What to give up?

many similar projects

Putting one program in front of the other we see that the commonalities are the most abundant. A section is dedicated to education in the texts of both formations. The growth of the ambitious university city, with this agreement, is assured. Both parties presented themselves to the elections with clear projects about the future of the university city and what it would be like. And both agree on practically everything, on how it will be, where it will be and the importance of promoting it. Perhaps Compromís would prefer that the offer be expanded beyond gastronomy, but it is something that the PSPV has never ruled out for the future. Grimalt already said in an interview to this newspaper that this was only the beginning.

Future headquarters of the Universitat d'Alacant on the Torrecremada estate

They also have common ideas regarding vocational training and other educational programs. But it is not for less, because even without being partners in the government, both formations have worked together since the Valencianistas had their people in charge of that ministry.

Regarding culture, the two propose many projects that, although they are different, go in the same direction: expanding the museum and cultural offer, caring for and enhancing the heritage of Dénia. It seems difficult that everything that each one has proposed can be carried out in four years without leaving anything out, but it does not seem that it will be difficult for them to reach agreements. Neither Compromís has to dislike the PSPV program in this regard, nor the PSPV that of Compromís.

The agreement in what has to do with the city festivities also seems a fact. The two presented themselves to the elections with many people on their lists closely linked to the city's festivities. They are teams with experience and once again make very similar proposals. The most important point of its programs was to turn Torrecremada into a space that, among other things, could be used to hold festive events. PSPV proposes a fairground like the one in Gandia, Compromís something more similar to the warehouses of the Parc Central de València or the Prado de Ondara. Whatever project is imposed, it will not take away the dream of any of its constituents.

Even in housing they reach points in common, betting on the creation of a public housing stock or social rental, relying on the General Structural Plan and the famous SAREB homes to shield the offer and reserving, if necessary use it, the Housing Law and its regulation of rental prices.

This, the location of the intermodal station, the commitment to the pedestrianization of the center and much more that it is impossible to summarize from one day to the next. But then where do the formations collide?

Differences that can cause some friction

While it is true that similarities prevail over differences, the latter are significant enough to cause more than one headache during negotiations.

A Dénia beach full of people in summer

To begin with, as far as tourism is concerned, both seek seasonality, avoid overcrowding, diversify the offer so as not to depend on "sun and sand", and make it sustainable and respectful. But Compromís goes a step further and is clear that the best way to ensure that it is sustained and respectful is through the application of the tourist tax. The PSPV, on the other hand, has always been against it, as they affirm that Dénia's tourism model, not based on hotel offer, creates many impediments for it to be effective.

Rafa CarrióDespite firmly believing that the application of the tax is the best solution for the City Council, he undertook to carry out studies and sit down all the agents involved to assess whether it was feasible before making a decision. Therefore, everything indicates that he could remain in the drawer and wait for another legislature.

Another issue that generates discrepancies between both teams is the city parking. They agree that the fewer vehicles inside the town, the better, but for this it is important to have parking spaces where you can leave cars and motorcycles to walk from there. The PSPV is happy with the work it has done to achieve this since the first coalition in 2015, currently having some 3.000 seats public parking and free. However, Compromís considers them too far from the center, which is why it proposed a high-rise car park above the current train station. A project that is not to the liking of the socialists and that, even if it is discarded, makes the position of the Valencianists clear. From both visions the future of the center should be developed.

Free ground parking in Dénia

Regarding the line of work, it seems that in most aspects they will understand each other and that they can be easily convinced to join the projects of others. Nothing seems to be such a deep stumbling block to break the agreement, so the real job will be to achieve a distribution of councils that satisfies both parties.