CASTELLÓ, Spain – The Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSPV-PSOE) in the province of Castellón is advocating for municipal support for local commerce, pushing for concrete measures to bolster a sector considered vital to the region’s economy, employment, and service provision, particularly in inland municipalities. The party’s vice-secretary general, Merche Galí, emphasized that supporting local commerce is “a matter of societal model,” warning that without administrative intervention, the streets of smaller towns risk being filled with closed storefronts.
Galí highlighted the significant contribution of retail to the Spanish economy, noting that it employs approximately two million people nationwide and accounts for around 15% of total employment. She further pointed out that the sector is largely comprised of small businesses and micro-enterprises, many of which are led by women, making the defense of local commerce a direct investment in gender equality, entrepreneurship, and population retention in inland areas.
The PSPV-PSOE’s proposed motion calls for a shift “from words to action,” advocating for flexible measures tailored to the specific realities of each municipality, both urban and rural. Key proposals include the development of municipal commerce plans integrating mobility, accessibility, urban design, and specific attention to the needs of seniors and those without personal transportation. “Commerce doesn’t exist in isolation. it depends on how streets and public services are designed,” Galí stated.
The party also proposes initiatives to stimulate local consumption during key periods of the year and to strengthen the modernization and digitalization of small businesses through training, support, and connection to existing government programs, such as the Kit Digital, a Spanish government initiative aimed at helping small businesses adopt digital technologies. “Administrations must stand alongside small businesses to enable them to compete in an increasingly demanding environment,” Galí asserted.
A significant challenge identified by the PSPV-PSOE is generational turnover. Many businesses are closing not due to economic inviability, but due to a lack of successors, a problem particularly acute in inland towns. The motion seeks to facilitate business transfers, identify at-risk businesses, and support new entrepreneurs, especially young people, by reducing bureaucratic hurdles and increasing access to resources. It also advocates for a renewed focus on municipal markets and traditional commercial spaces as hubs for community interaction and identity.
The PSPV-PSOE’s initiative comes as the party prepares a motion to establish the foundations for local commerce aid in Castelló for 2026, aiming to reach a consensus with the sector on the criteria for these funds. Patricia Puerta, spokesperson for the Socialist Municipal Group, stated that the goal is to “always work hand-in-hand with the commercial sector to listen to their needs and proposals and, in parallel, work for municipal consensus.” This follows a previous agreement to jointly develop the basis for aid next year, ensuring support for a key sector of the city.
The move also responds to recent actions by the municipal government, which approved an increase in the budget for commercial vouchers to €800,000 without prior consultation with businesses or opposition parties. While Puerta acknowledged the importance of the voucher campaign, she emphasized the need for a collaborative approach to designing the best possible aid programs for 2026, potentially through the establishment of a working commission.
The PSPV-PSOE’s broader advocacy for local commerce aligns with a provincial resolution passed in May 2025, recognizing the sector as crucial for job creation, social cohesion, and economic dynamism. The resolution calls on all administrations to implement measures to protect local businesses and combat commercial desertification in towns and neighborhoods across the province of Castellón. The party argues that defending local commerce is a priority for ensuring vibrant, sustainable, and future-proof cities and towns.
“Local commerce needs all our support and affection; it needs us to join forces, because when a business closes its doors, we lose services, we lose jobs, and we all lose,” Galí concluded.
