L'Hospitalet's 363.74 million euro budget for 2026 automatically approved

The opposition failed to present a motion of no confidence after ERC and Comuns refused to negotiate an agreement with the Popular Party.

Visual representation of a municipal budget with financial charts and superimposed city plans.
IA

Visual representation of a municipal budget with financial charts and superimposed city plans.

The L'Hospitalet de Llobregat City Council automatically approved its 363.74 million euro budget for 2026 this Tuesday, after the opposition failed to present a motion of no confidence following the government's activation of a confidence vote.

This legal mechanism, stipulated in the electoral law, was triggered because the opposition failed to secure the absolute majority required to present a motion of no confidence. This occurred despite attempts by the Popular Party (PP), led by Sonia Esplugas, to reach an agreement with ERC and Comuns, who strongly refused to negotiate with the groups.
The municipal budget of 363.74 million euros represents an increase of 3.22% compared to the previous year. The council maintains fiscal ordinances frozen and consolidates a solid financial situation, characterized by a low debt level (12.68%), allowing for an investment effort of 42.7 million euros, aimed at improving neighborhoods and strategic transformative projects.
Among the priority axes, housing stands out, with a 7% increase in the allocation coinciding with the launch of the Local Housing Plan, which includes the purchase of nearly 3 million euros for social housing. The security and coexistence allocation also grows by 7% and includes plans for tendering the design competition for the new joint police station with the National Police and the full digitalization of the Guardia Urbana.
The vision of a 'Green L'Hospitalet' is also promoted, with a new cleaning and waste collection contract worth 43.5 million euros annually, which will renew 154 vehicles and 4,250 containers. Finally, the Samontà Comprehensive Plan is consolidated as the core of urban and social regeneration, with an initial investment of 15 million euros through the Consortium for the Reform of Granvia and Samontà.