The authorities of the autonomous community of Extremadura (Junta de Extremadura) have decided to allocate more than one million euros for the development of sports facilities in small towns across the region. A total of 21 municipalities will receive direct subsidies, but 20 of them are governed by Partido Popular (PP) representatives, sparking a wave of criticism from the opposition and residents of other towns.
Officials explain that the selected towns have limited resources and cannot compete equally for funding opportunities. According to them, assistance is provided in exceptional cases, when there are urgent and confirmed needs for sports infrastructure. However, this approach has raised questions from other municipalities, which have also spent years seeking to improve conditions for sports but have been left without support.
Criticism of the distribution and opposition response
The decision to allocate funds has drawn criticism from representatives of other political forces. The opposition points out that nearly all the recipients are towns governed by Partido Popular, and the only excluded municipality is also close to the ruling coalition. In response to these accusations, officials reminded that, under other programs such as PIDEX, 76 towns received funding this year, most of which are governed by the Socialists (PSOE).
Nevertheless, residents and mayors of the municipalities left without support believe the distribution process was closed and unfair. In Barbaño (Badajoz), for example, a town of around 650 people, residents have been demanding for years that the dirt surface on the local football field be replaced with artificial turf. Locals have repeatedly staged protests, pointing out that the field floods during rainy weather, making sports activities impossible.
Voices of municipalities left without support
The mayor of Barbaño, Sergio Tena, notes that their town received neither information about the procedure nor the opportunity to apply. According to him, the decision to allocate funds was made without a public announcement or transparent selection process. He emphasizes that having a modern football field is crucial for local children so they can play sports in proper conditions.
A similar situation has arisen in Villa del Rey (Cáceres), home to just 120 people. The town’s mayor, José Flores (PSOE), also insists on the need to build a multifunctional sports facility. By his estimates, no more than 60,000 euros are needed for this, but their requests continue to go unanswered by regional authorities.
Government arguments and new accusations
The regional government led by María Guardiola claims that direct allocation of subsidies ensures equal access to sports services in sparsely populated and vulnerable areas. Authorities cite technical reports and confirmed needs of municipalities, as well as the urgency and seriousness of identified infrastructure problems.
However, representatives of PSOE and Unidas por Extremadura believe that this practice leads to inequality among municipalities and entrenches a system where only ‘favored’ towns benefit. The opposition points out that in the draft budget, which was not approved, the overwhelming majority of funds for educational infrastructure were also earmarked for towns governed by the Partido Popular.
Debate over fairness and transparency
Unidas por Extremadura emphasizes that this method of allocating funds also existed under the Socialists and demands fundamental changes. According to their representatives, supporting only ‘loyal’ municipalities widens the gap between different parts of the region and fails to address the real needs of the population.
The authorities in Extremadura continue to insist that all decisions were based on objective criteria and technical assessments. Nevertheless, discontent among residents and opposition figures persists, and the question of transparency and fairness in the allocation of public funds remains unresolved.
