My Reasons for Changing Parties

I can now repost this information (first posted over a week ago) as all bureaucratic processes have now been complete.

First of all, an apology to my wife and friends. I had told them that at the next election I would not stand for re-selection and retire from politics. BUT!

Over the past few weeks there have been many meetings going on, within the party I have represented for the past 8 years, (Partido Andalucista, PA) and the Partido Socialista Obrero Espanol (PSOE).

During the period 2007 to 2015 the PSOE party adopted a different view to our planning actions than we thought was appropriate.  As a consequence we have had a constant battle in the courts. Candido has considered his position and, I think, felt that his name, despite his innocence, attracted negative feelings, so he has been looking for a way forward for Zurgena.

Many of you may be confused by the fact that my name is now on a PSOE list given how for the past 8 years I have been criticising their actions. Below is my explanation.

The PSOE party are undergoing a metamorphosis and becoming a party with a more pragmatic attitude towards the property situation. This is evidenced by the work on the LOUA  and as a result, of the above mentioned meetings, a new list of independent persons has been created under the PSOE name. A good list with very broad representation of people in the municipality and I believe a better group of people to take things forward. 

I have agreed to stand under the banner of PSOE because I believe that this is by far the best way to guarantee our PGOU gets swift approval. That is now a better possibility, due to the success of the PSOE in the recent Andalusian elections. It is now a party which can propose and make solutions to our PGOU and problems.

I have also been convinced that the PSOE, as a political body, is changing and the old guard is being replaced with more progressive people and this is also something to be appreciated and factored in.

I hope that you will all agree that this is a fantastic opportunity for us as citizens of Zurgena to put in place a team of people all of whom, I can personally verify, are totally committed to the municipality and will work for the benefit of all of the residents. It is perhaps the most important election in the past 12 years and I hope you will support us.

I will hope to get the chance to enlarge upon this explanation at the meeting this evening in the Renfe at 6.0pm and hop as many a possible can make it.

PSOE List of the candidates for the local elections to beheld Sunday 24th May 2015;

No 1 Luis Diaz GARCIA (current mayor)

No 2 Dolores Garcia CANO (otherwise known to most as ¨Lola Antas¨¨ Candidos´wife)

No 3 Myself (included at this high number, despite saying I would be happy at 8 or lower! The others felt that it was important to have my name higher up the list to show the importance (not my importance) they attached to the expat community. 

No 4 Noelia Garcia JIMENEZ (currently a very hard working councillor for culture and sport)

No 5 Francisco Martinez RAMOS (currently and the past 8 years an active member of P.A.)

No 6 Manolo Menchon MENCHON (for the past four years an active supporter of PA)

No 7 Francisco Lopez BELMONTE (a well respected local man who has been active in politics)

No 8 Gina Ramos EGEA (a well respected and well liked young lady who has the support of many young people)
No 9 No 11 Michael Foulkes, who has supported me and the PA during the last 4 years of administration and well known to the residents of the pool bar area where he acts as the defacto postman.

No 10 Fabiana Lorente TORREGROSA (another well liked and respected local lady who works in assisting the elderly)

No 11 Antonio Jesus Bonillo MARTOS (also known as Nono a young man active in the village band who can help communicate with the youth of the villages))