Who to vote for?

[knowal]

Next Sunday, those of us registered can go along to vote in the municipal elections.
Local politics is less about parties than the national ones.
Where I live, all the parties are promising the same things, and they won't be able to implement all of them, because of cost.
I guess I'll vote PP as all of the others are different shades of socialism.

Which party will you vote for?

[oliveview01]

We have still not received our voting papers, we have checked and we are on the 'list' to vote. Will have to re-visit the town hall again.

[hiker]

I got my voting papers this week but I'm still unsure about who to go for...Do I opt for the promises of things to come or do I opt for the past performances????

The PA have been in power here in Frigiliana for two terms now. From what I can see they have done a fairly decent job.
However I'm of the opinion that two terms is long enough for any party to hold power....

Decisions, decisions...

[knowal]

Remember that you don't need to have take your voting papers to vote, you just need to be on the list and take your photo ID (original passport) with you.

[peteroldracer]

It will be interesting to see what happens when I go on Sunday - my passport is somewhere in the Madrid renewal system.....I cannot help but think that the man from DHL may not hand it over when it is ready because I cannot produce a passport as ID.....

[Campo Steve]

Still unsure myself who to vote for. Being in the Campo I don't know those standing personally, unlike our previous residence where we did know a few of them.

Trouble is I don't know what the individual parties stand for.

We have had two lots of election material delivered, both from PP, one lot in Spanish and the other in English. None of the other parties have, so far, shown any interest in coming out with anything.

Although this is a local election, can anyone advise me what the individual parties stand for?

Thanks

[annfoto]

Still unsure myself who to vote for. Being in the Campo I don't know those standing personally, unlike our previous residence where we did know a few of them.

Trouble is I don't know what the individual parties stand for.

We have had two lots of election material delivered, both from PP, one lot in Spanish and the other in English. None of the other parties have, so far, shown any interest in coming out with anything.

Although this is a local election, can anyone advise me what the individual parties stand for?

Thanks

In sinmple terms PP = Conservatinve PSOE = Socialist
The PP seem to have a disproportionaly large number of councilors with either suspended jail sentences or future trials for corruption hanging over them. Mind you the PSOE are not far behind in that respect.
There were demonstrations in many Spanish cities yesterday urging people not to vote in protest of the corrupt Bi-partisan system.

[Campo Steve]

Thanks for that Ann.

It would have been easy if we were still living in our village house as I like the mayor there. He has done a lot for the village. He used to be PA but changed to PP. Yes, he was charged of corruption, but cleared on all counts.

[Beachcomber]

For whom to vote? Take your pick:

http://www.ati.es/spip.php?rubrique139

In the last corruption table which I saw the PSOE were ahead on points! Both the PP mayor and the PSOE contender in my municipality are being investigated for corruption. If they are represented in your municipality you may like to consider Alternativa Española

[country boy]

We will be voting tactically; the present incumbent is PSOE and has done a reasonable job since trouncing the IU at the last elections. The PP don't stand a cat in hells chance in our town , they would be our preferred choice, so we must vote PSOE to keep the Commies out who are just soooo corrupt!

[Miro]

I would vote for any party, Monster Raving or otherwise, if they promised to fix the drainage here so that you don't need a kayak to cross the road when it pours down, but sadly I think they are all too keen to plant more palm trees and erect more silly sculptures and create more slippery surfaced plazas with whatever is left over after lining their own pockets. So screw 'em, I abstain.

[peteroldracer]

Being in the Campo

Are you in the Benamargosa campo, or do you now come under Comares?
I can tell you about the latter....

[Campo Steve]

Comares now Peter so any info welcome.

[oliveview01]

About 2 months ago we checked we were on the voting list.......yes we were told.... We went to the townhall today to be told we were not in the list! P. Up in a brewery comes to mind. I am not happy!

[Trooperman]

I'm with Miro on this one:

I would vote for any party, Monster Raving or otherwise, if they promised to fix the drainage here so that you don't need a kayak to cross the road when it pours down, but sadly I think they are all too keen to plant more palm trees and erect more silly sculptures and create more slippery surfaced plazas with whatever is left over after lining their own pockets. So screw 'em, I abstain.

But it's interesting to compare the approach taken by the differing sides: the PP (no chance whatsoever around here) sent me, by post, a flyer but there's been no other contact - they'd probably be lynched if they set foot here. The PSOE, currently (and probably in perpetuity) in charge of the town hall have made no contact whatsoever but have a meeting tonight and the PA content themselves with a meeting (last night) and a poster of all their hopefuls taken on the steps of the town hall (up which few will go as councillers!) The only ones with any drive and commitment appear to be the IU who have made two personal visits and who have produced effective (and, no doubt, expensive) flyers and booklets. Does the IU sense an opporunity I wonder?

[Acen]

I was told that you had to be part of a political party to stand for election.

At least in my town anyway there are no independants!!!

when was the deadline to register your intention to vote???

acen

[Mowser]

One party I won't be voting for here is PA (Partido Andalucista). They've been in power for too long and in my opinion, have almost destroyed the village. What used to be (20 years ago) a simple white village has now turned into a theme park. We have a "train" ferrying tourists round the village. So far it only goes through the new part of town but they have permission (backhanders) to traverse the old narrow part although that hasn't happened yet. We also have a horse and cart to ferry tourists who don't like the "train."

With Frigiliana becoming a "holiday resort" it is obvious that more parking places are needed. A private car park opened up a few years back but asked for crazy prices so tourists just parked where it was free. This left precious few spaces for residents. Because no-one used the car park much, the bank called in the mortgage and now the car park has closed. Whatever party gets in will have to address this problem quickly.

Because the village is €2.3 million in debt the PA sold the water to Aqualia. The Frigiliana town hall generated around €100,000 per annum with its water, but they sold the franchise for €800,000 - 8 years worth of profits. The company has the lease for 25 years. More backhanders probably.

Back to the parking fiasco. It used to be that when you arrived in Frigiliana you could park anywhere on the right hand side along the ring road. Free parking spaces abounded. In their "wisdom", the PA decided to move the spaces to the other side of the street, but this time put in lamp-posts and flower beds between the spaces. Result? Fewer places to park. I assume they did this to give work to locals. I would call it bribery. Many locals who are known not to support PA did not receive employment.

I could go on but you get my gist. I'll be voting ABPA (Anyone but PA).

Rant over.

[ashtondav]

A few good points and some pretty cr*p ones.

1. If it weren't for tourism 80% of the town would be flogging aquacates at €1.50 a kilo. Yes it's a shame it brings a train and and a pony and cart, but so what? Car parking is a problem now because so many locals can afford a car. 15 years ago they couldn't.

2. The car parking spaces were reduced and the road narrowed because of the number of traffic fatalities and accidents over the last few years.

3. The car park wasn't owned by the town hall. It was a private contractor who set the stupid rates. Not PA. Hopefully the town hall will do a deal with the bank and open it at sensible prices.

4. PA have said they will introduce 'resident only' parking places.

I'll grant you the point about the sale of water at a silly price.

I don't think the PA have done much wrong, in fact I think the village looks good and is a credit to all residents (except those who leave their dog sh*t on the pavements.)

I see no reason to vote them out

[Mowser]

Ashtondav
Agree with some of your points. With regard to tourism, it would have been better if had been "managed."
Your point about car parking isn't quite correct. Granted more villagers have cars, but when the building boom was on and the town hall was encouraging more tourists to come, parking should have been thought about in advance. It's not just me who's complaining about the parking problem. Local businesses are concerned that if the parking problem isn't sorted out, visitors will come here then and head straight back down the coast. When "Plan Zapatero" was in force, the town hall - knowing about the parking problems for years - should have built their own car park. Again it was their short-sightedness by selling off the land for a quick buck.

I'll finish by saying that a village of 3,000 people with a debt of over €2million should indeed get shot of the current party.

[Mowser]

Ashtondav

The car parking spaces were reduced and the road narrowed because of the number of traffic fatalities and accidents over the last few years.

Eh?