The president of the Generalitat, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, “has made a mistake.” The phrase, from the mayor of Alicante, Luis Barcala, a colleague of the head of the Consell in the ranks of the PP, highlights the discontent caused by leaving June 24, St. John’s Day and the date on which the Cremà of the Hogueras de Alicante is celebrated, out of the regional holiday calendar for 2027. According to Barcala, and all members of the council, the Alicante festival must have “the same consideration” as March 19, St. Joseph’s Day, when the Fallas of Valencia burn.
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During the ordinary July plenary session, held this Thursday, one of the agenda items was dedicated to declaring June 24 and April 8, the date on which the traditional pilgrimage of the Santa Faz will be held, local holidays. One of those votes in which no one opposes.
But the simplicity of the procedure has become a plea against the decision of the Consell of Pérez Llorca, aggravated by his condition as an Alicante native. “I say it loud and clear. Whoever governs in Valencia. And if in this case it is Mr. Pérez Llorca who is governing, he has made a mistake,” certifies Barcala.
The comparative grievance between the Fallas and the Hogueras is one of those that feed the intimate enmity between the two cities. And when it comes to the official city festivals, practically untouchable, no program or ideals matter. Barcala has expressed to Pérez Llorca his “strongest protest for not having considered the 24th as a holiday.” “And I will not say less to Mr. Pérez Llorca than I asked Mr. [Ximo] Puig at the time,” when the leader of the Botànic Government gave the day of the Cremà the status of a regional working day.
In Barcala’s opinion, it is “absolutely essential” that all Valencians, Castellonenses, and Alicantinos have a day off to enjoy the “big day” of the San Juan festivities. The opposite, he argues, “has no explanation.”
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Subsequently and to “leave no room for misinterpretation,” Barcala has emphasized that the current Consell of the Generalitat, chaired by Pérez Llorca, has invested in the city of Alicante during the three years of the current legislature “a thousand times more” than the previous regional government chaired by the socialist Ximo Puig.
The councilor for Festivals, Cristina Cutanda, has stressed that they have already requested the Generalitat to reconsider its position and declare June 24 a “recoverable” holiday next year. That is, that it be of free choice and can be compensated with work outside working hours or on other holidays. For 2028, the intention is for it to be “non-recoverable,” that is, a holiday in all respects.
The opposition’s interventions have abounded in the indignation of the Alicantinos. The socialist councilor Miguel Castelló calls the Consell’s decision a “lack of institutional respect.” The spokesperson for Compromís, Rafa Mas, regrets the situation and criticizes that Barcala has said “nothing” to his party leader.
From EU, councilor Manolo Copé asks for “political and public” pressure so that San Juan is consolidated as a regional holiday. And, finally, Vox has appealed, as usual, to the presidency of the Government, and requests that Pedro Sánchez “change the law” so that June 24 is a holiday. The vote for June 24 and the day of the Santa Faz not to be working days in the city was unanimously in favor.
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