- PSOE spokesperson Carolina Gracia criticizes Orihuela’s Festivities Department over unpaid funds and delayed festival subsidies.
- Allegations of fraud detected in two festival commissions have caused payment hold-ups.
- Some festival commissions in Orihuela’s districts consider withdrawing due to economic uncertainty.
- PSOE accuses Festivities Councillor Rocío Ortuño of failing to manage timely payments and publish subsidy guidelines.
- PSOE demands openness and immediate action to protect traditional festivals and support local communities.
PSOE Calls on Orihuela’s festivities Department to Release Pending Festival Funds Amid Fraud Concerns
The socialist spokesperson in Orihuela, Carolina Gracia, has issued a strong response to recent statements by Rocío Ortuño, the Councillor for Festivities, regarding the alleged fraud discovered in two local festival commissions. While acknowledging the public description given by Ortuño, Gracia criticized the lack of clarity about the overdue payment of 20% of last year’s festival subsidies and called for urgently releasing this pending amount.
Unpaid Festival Subsidies Stir Economic Uncertainty
The controversy centers on Orihuela’s customary financial support for festival commissions, essential to maintaining the city’s rich cultural traditions. The 20% balance from last year remains unpaid, and no official timeline has been provided for the publication of this year’s subsidy guidelines.
Carolina Gracia highlighted the consequences of this delay, especially for rural districts (pedanías), where some comemorations are at risk of disappearing due to economic unpredictability:
- Several commissions have considered withdrawing from this year’s festivities.
- Festival organizations operate under tight deadlines to justify expenses but face administrative deadlock from the council.
- Lack of timely payments increases costs and discourages community participation.
PSOE Points to Poor management and Unfulfilled Responsibilities
Gracia criticized that while Councillor Ortuño publicly thanked the commissions, she failed to manage administrative procedures properly, thus risking the future of Orihuela’s popular festivities. According to the PSOE spokesperson, the yearly administrative procedure for subsidies remains unchanged, and delays are due to poor governance rather than procedural complexity.
“It is not serious to publicly appreciate the commissions’ work and concurrently neglect to publish the subsidy bases on time,” Gracia stated.
Alleged Fraud and Political Pressure
regarding the suspected fraud within two festival commissions, the PSOE recognized the government’s public explanation but suggested it was motivated by political and media pressure rather than genuine openness.
Gracia further expressed doubts about recent claims that new control systems have been implemented, calling them “the same old mechanisms.” According to her, the real issue lies in the appointment of unsuitable temporary personnel. Additionally, PSOE has requested access to the full case file to verify if the advisor linked to the scandal has continued to receive public payments despite the ongoing investigation.
immediate Demands from PSOE to Protect Orihuela’s Festivities
In closing, Gracia urged Councillor Ortuño to focus on fulfilling her obligations instead of safeguarding her public image:
- Guarantee the disbursement of all pending payments to festival commissions.
- Close outstanding subsidy files related to last year’s festivals.
- Publish the subsidy guidelines for the current year immediately.
The traditional festivals have already started in several districts, and leaving commissions and residents to bear the financial responsibilities without clear payment timelines risks not only extra costs but also the decline of community involvement and the loss of Orihuela’s cultural heritage.
| Issue | Impact | PSOE’s Demand |
|---|---|---|
| Unpaid 20% festival subsidies | Economic uncertainty among festival committees | Immediate payment of pending funds |
| Delay in publishing subsidy bases | Delays in festival planning and organization | Publish bases without further delay |
| Alleged fraud in two commissions | Political pressure and reputational damage | Transparent investigation and accountability |
Protecting Orihuela’s Festivities and Community Traditions
Orihuela’s popular and district festivals are a cultural backbone for the region, fostering community spirit and tourism. The PSOE’s strong stance highlights the risks posed by bureaucratic delays and mismanagement to long-standing local traditions.
Ensuring that festival commissions receive timely financial support is crucial to keeping these traditions alive, encouraging citizen participation, and sustaining Orihuela’s vibrant cultural calendar.
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