Festeras entities in Alicante have drafted a joint manifesto outlining the main concerns and proposals for the Hogueras festival. This document, resulting from a meeting between representatives of over 140 commissions, will be submitted to the Fiestas Department with the aim of finding solutions for both the short and long term.
The two fundamental priorities of the manifesto are the unblocking of subsidies for monument construction and the resolution of permits for assembly. The document laments the delay in resolving administrative issues, which they consider detrimental to the festival's celebration and which are creating an "unsustainable" situation.
The manifesto emphasizes that "Hogueras and Barracas represent much more than just festivals. They are culture, tradition, coexistence, and an essential part of our city's identity." "Without a doubt," they add, "the uncertainty, administrative delays, constant changes in criteria, and the difficulties faced by the commissions are generating an unsustainable situation that jeopardizes the proper development of our festivals."
To reverse this situation, the festeras associations propose six urgent measures. Firstly, they demand the "immediate resolution and notification of permits for racós, barracas, and hogueras" that are currently in a grace period. Secondly, they request the immediate favorable consideration of permit renewals for installations that have not undergone modifications compared to previous years.
Thirdly, they propose that installations with modifications be evaluated using the same technical criteria as in previous years, avoiding new interpretations. The fourth requirement is the "immediate payment of committed subsidies and advances" for commissions that have submitted correct documentation. Fifthly, they request that no commission be excluded due to "rectifiable" issues and that payment be made without further delay.
Finally, in sixth place, they call for the "immediate suspension of new directives proposed by SPEIS," considering them "disproportionate, unfair, and very difficult to apply" to the normal development of the festival, especially those planned for 2027.
In addition to these immediate solutions, the manifesto calls for medium and long-term measures to improve the relationship between the administration and the festeras associations. They propose enhancing "institutional communication" by establishing "fluid, constant, and transparent" dialogue.
They also consider it essential to reform the current Festival Ordinance to guarantee "clear and reasonable deadlines, legal certainty, unique and stable technical criteria, agile and accessible procedures, and homogeneous and fair application," ensuring that the regulations facilitate, rather than hinder, the celebration of the festival.
Finally, they advocate for "festera consensus" in drafting the future Ordinance, with the active participation of associations and professionals who understand the festera reality. "We will not accept unilateral decisions that alter the essence, idiosyncrasy, and way of experiencing our festivals," they warn.
The festeras entities recall their "responsibility, capacity for dialogue, and willingness to collaborate," but also state that "we will defend the Festa with the same firmness with which we keep it alive year after year." They request "immediate" responses and "real commitments," and threaten "pressure measures" if "satisfactory progress is not observed within a reasonable timeframe."
