Opposition attacks mayor’s absence from festival

THE Socialist mayor of Alfaz del Pi, Vicente Arques, has been criticised for failing to attend any of the programmed events celebrating the festival of the town’s municipal patron San José.

Neither was Arques present at Mass on the previous Sunday, which coincided with the pastoral visit of the Most Reverend Bishop of the Diocese of Orihuela-Alicante, Jesús Murgui.

Only one party councillor was in attendance out of the 14 members that comprise the government team. Observed walking to Mass with his head down, he is notably absent from lists presented by the PSPV-PSOE in the forthcoming May elections.

An opposition PP spokesperson indignantly described the mayor’s attitude as “disrespectful” toward the residents of the town and demanded he explain his absence throughout one of the most important festivals on the Alfaz calendar.