No 1079 Monday 9th - Sunday 15th June 2025
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The Costa Blanca’s oldest ‘FREE’ English language newspaper - WITH THE LARGEST LOCAL CIRCULATION
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D R A M AT I C V O T E O F N O C O N F I D E N C E T O P P L E S S A N F U L G E N C I O M AY O R
Councillor Alain Vandenbergen
an Fulgencio, a quiet coastal town known for its large expat community, is about to experience a seismic shift in local politics. Alain Vandenbergen, a 75-year-old Belgian who has lived in Spain for 26 years, has become the pivotal figure in a dramatic vote of no confidence set for June 18. This vote will unseat the current mayor, Jose Maria Ballester of the Partido Popular (PP), and transfer power back to the Socialist Party (PSOE). Vandenbergen’s defection from his previous alliance with the PP has sent shockwaves through the town hall and is about to reshape the municipality’s future. Unlike many foreign retirees who prefer to sit on the sidelines, Vandenbergen entered local politics with a clear mission: to fight for the neglected residential urbanisations - the vast developments of La Marina, El Oasis, and La Escuera that house most of San Fulgencio’s nearly 10,000 residents. With 65% of the population being non-Spanish nationals, these urbanisations form the economic backbone of the town, generating approximately 95% of municipal income through local taxes and fees.
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