“A PP led bipartite government with CLR/CLARO in Orihuela isn't what the CLARO party supporters wanted, but will get if the CLR agree it”
followed by this comment a few days later:
“CLARO sold out to the CLR for power! Will their coalition sell out to the PP for more power? Is what I'm asking a joke, - think about it!”.
At the time there were those residents of Orihuela Costa who thought that my comments were ludicrous, as is their right.
The result of the long drawn out discussions and bargaining was that a tripartite government of the PSOE, Los Verdes and CLR/CLARO political groups was agreed, not too amicably.
I read with great interest the following comments in the January 2012 C.L.A.R.O. Newsletter, especially the final paragraph in the extract:
“the continuing differences within the government between the CLR party, our partner in the May election, and C.L.A.R.O. These differences which, for reasons of their perceived political advantage, have led our CLR partners over the past 5 months to seek to divide the management of the coast and to reduce the responsibilities or competences of the C.L.A.R.O Councillor for the Coast. The differences culminated in November in CLR attempts to divide the C.L.A.R.O party prior to our Annual General Meeting and their unilateral exclusion or expulsion of C.L.A.R.O from the joint government group in the council CLR-CLARO. In the November AGM, C.L.A.R.O confirmed that despite its difficulties with CLR, we would continue to support the present government provided we got all means necessary, including finance and competences, to carry out our work on behalf of Orihuela Costa.
It was not surprising that in these circumstances, Monica Lorente, the leader of the Popular Party, the largest single party in the Orihuela Council, with 12 seats, one short of a majority, should have requested a meeting with the Councillor for the Coast, Bob Houliston. A meeting did take place in the Playa Flamenco office of the Town Hall on 28 December. The two leaders had a general conversation on questions of political interest in Orihuela and Orihuela Costa”.
Perhaps my comments in 2011 were not that far off of the possible future for the Orihuela Town Council. Is Bob Houliston, Leader of the CLARO party looking for more personal power by making a bipartite power partnership with the PP party in the Council? Will the current tripartite government survive? Will we see a new dynamic duo; Mon & Bob?
Edited 27th January 2012.
See follow-up article 'Ex PP Mayor says CLARO leader is an honourable man! - How time changes opinions when it suits!
Edited 27th January 2012.
See follow-up article 'Ex PP Mayor says CLARO leader is an honourable man! - How time changes opinions when it suits!
Well we are seeing all sorts of unholy alliances being forged in Orihuela. I used to think groups formed alliances when they shared some common goals or values. Here alliances are formed by individuals and groups on the basis of shared hatreds not shared goals. For example on Entre Naranjos what is emerging is a growing pact between John Reynolds,a self made man and staunch supporter of the PP who seriously admires Monica and Pedro Mancebo Leader of the CLR and Councillor for Tourism who has been a arch critic of the PP and Monica.So what have they got in common now when they have hated each other stands for in the past? What binds these two men together is a mutual lust for power and their joint hatred of the PSOE.
ReplyDeleteYes, politics is a funny thing in Spain. Politicians stab you in the back one minute and then are your best friends next! Watch this space! Lets see what unholy alliances are formed for money, power and hatred and lets see which groups and individuals stick to their principals.
Sarah... once again you are making unfair comments and twisting the truth, manipulating the public opinion with statements like those you made about the pedaneos imposed by the Psoe right after the election, you remember? I was right then, you lied. It is actually funny that a democratic supporter of the Psoe as you are finds difficult to understand that a democratic politician (me in this case) is willing to help and advice any citizen that requests so from him, irrespective of who did he vote for or who did he support. I do not help my neighbours depending on who he is friend with. "Lust for power"? "Joint hatred of the Psoe"?... Are you ok Sarah? Do you really mean it?... "Politics is a funny thing in Spain"? yes? Isn't it in UK? or France? or Italy?... Why you fingerpoint Spain? Have we not treated you well?... Once again, are you ok Sarah? do you really mean it? Im definitely not a politician who stabs you in the back, but a politician that act accordingly to law and according to my duties as councillor and deputy mayor, and I always try to give adequate response to "anyone" needs and requests, even if that person is or was or will be a supporter of Monica Lorente. Listen again: even if that person is a supporter of Monica Lorente... Or even if it was a supporter of Antonia Moreno. Are you saying or confirming unwittingly that Psoe politicians only help, advice and give adequate response to the Psoe supporters? Is that what you do? Is that what democracy is about? Then yes your image of politics is a funny thing... Unholy alliances formed for money, power and hatred... Definitely Sarah you have got me on the wrong side... Regards. PEDRO MANCEBO
ReplyDeleteI have only recently been made aware of Sarah Hills political ramblings and still find as does Snr. Pedro Mancebo how anyone can lie and have so much hate? Truly Distasteful. Outside of a few occasional polite sentences between each other during the last election campaign I know precious little of her; I certainly don't go about stating how I hate her or anyone else for that matter. She stated I was power crazy, why was it then that I declined the first offer to be Mayor and represent the village12 months prior to accepting the post. This was due to my other more personal commitments. For those unaware The Pedaneo's job is unpaid and in reality ends up costing a fair amount over the year, no expenses either.
ReplyDeleteThere is one thing I feel I should clarify and which I think has been truly overlooked but extremely important, Sarah was added to the list of possible candidates as a councilor at the last election by the P.S.O.E, which is a paid job, whilst on the other hand when I was asked by Monica I declined. How does that define me as being power crazy? My reason for this was extremely simple, I have no interest in politics for the sake of politics, my interest is Entrenaranjos & Laguna Green, Having contacts in the Town Hall to further and improve the village is a must. It is a known fact that each and every time I have been in the press it has been to promote our Village, whereas Sarah seems to achieve giving us nothing but bad publicity. I am doing no more now than I have been doing for the last eight years and that is to work for the good of where I live, I will not allow others to down grade, put down or worse whilst I still have the drive and willpower to do differently. If Sarah is a true example of the P.S.O.E. God help them.
Regards. John Reynolds
Most of my urbanization voted for the CLR- CLARO party last May in the belief that this alliance would bring change and some hope to our coast. We were fed up of the many corruption cases affecting the Town Hall in Orihuela and we wanted more resources for Orihuela Costa.
ReplyDeleteThe CLR party’s elected councillors have proven to be capable, intelligent and in tune with the people. They stuck to their word and their election manifesto. In the coast the two CLARO councillors have proven to be the opposite. Nothing has been done in Orihuela Costa by the Claro party since they got into power, except moaning and complaining about their alliance partners and fighting for exclusivity and more power for Mr Houliston. Is power all that is important to the Claro leader?
For four or five years Claro have been offering a way to “change” the coast, we gave them a mandate to do it with the CLR but now it seems that all that they are concerned about is ego and personal ambitions. What about the promises and the trust of the good people who voted for you? We feel frustrated and disappointed that all the CLARO promises have been spoilt by the greed of two fake politicians who have now resigned after proving that they were incapable of doing the job they coveted so much. All that is bad enough but now we hear that all the rumours about an agreement to bring back the PP to power are true.
I know that most of the good hardworking members of CLARO are stunned by the dramatic resignations of Bob Houliston and Antonio Cerdan in the last two weeks especially as this happened without asking the opinion of the Claro members which they should have done if they were honest democrats.
Monica Lorente vowed after the May 2011 election to destroy the CLR-CLARO alliance because it took two PP seats away from her. She set out to divide the alliance with Cerdan’s help. They succeeded in isolating Bob by convincing him to desert CLR at the first opportunity. The PP has been supportive of Bob by not criticising him or CLARO since the election despite the lack of work done in the Playa Flamenca Town Hall.
Already Bob is seen as betraying the electorate by resigning his post but if he joins forces with the PP, CLARO will probably not survive the next three months let alone the next three years. Mr Houliston has confirmed to CLARO members that will vote against the government and with the PP in the budget debate next month.
The reward for facilitating the disruption of the legal government we voted for, has come in the shape of a black Range Rover worth more than 70,000€ driven shamelessly by Bob’s right-hand-man Cerdan, up and down Orihuela Costa, since they both agreed to resign. Many supporters cannot understand how Antonio Cerdan, who is known to have been unemployed for a number of years, except for a brief period as Bob’s assistant in the town hall, can acquire this luxury car on the same week that he resigned his employment.
If this is what we can expect from CLARO, then we should feel embarrassed for trusting their word. If Bob Houliston acts against CLARO principles and aims and supports Monica Lorente against the coalition government he should pack his bags and go back to Brussels.