Cultural councillor Irene Ruiz has asserted that the Elche council stands by the legality and transparency of the 2026 cultural production grants in response to criticisms from the Compromís party. She emphasised that this is a public call for applications, the guidelines of which were published in the Official Bulletin of the Province, adhering to all legal deadlines without any objections being raised.
Ruiz highlighted that the €30,000 allocated for this grant has allowed for the funding of every submitted project, ensuring that none were excluded. Regarding the removal of the requirement for applicants to have a tax residence in Elche, she explained that the guidelines have been adapted to comply with the Law on the Guarantee of Market Unity, which establishes the principle of non-discrimination based on the location of businesses. She stated, “What matters is that the projects are developed, premiered, or performed in Elche, ensuring that the cultural activity directly benefits our city.”
Ruiz firmly stated that “public representatives, especially those of us who are councillors, have the responsibility to understand current legislation, particularly when making public statements that question administrative decisions. Before criticising, the least one should do is understand the law and verify why the guidelines have been modified.”
She also noted that previous guidelines required companies to be based in Elche but did not mandate that productions be premiered or performed in the city, a condition that is now guaranteed.
Finally, the councillor emphasised that the grants are evaluated solely by a panel of technicians and experts from the sector, including those from other administrations, with no political involvement. “This government will continue to support culture with objective criteria, transparency, and full respect for the law,” she concluded.
