No more excuses, no more justifications. The Valencian Community and the province of Alicante deserve tangible action. An official plan in Madrid is needed to address funding, investment, and water management, and Valencian business leaders and politicians must defend autonomy when decisions are made in other capitals such as Brussels.
That is the message echoed by the CEV president, Salvador Navarro, who headlines this week’s Alicante Forum edition with the theme “The Lady and Post 52.” He analyzes the core issues facing autonomy, explains why he believes the current set of circumstances persists, and outlines practical steps to improve the situation.
The event was organized by INFORMACIÓN Club, CEV, the University of Alicante, Baleària, Eiffaj and Carmencita at the El Maestral restaurant. It also saw the intervention of Joaquín Pérez, the Alicante chapter’s president, who chaired the session in his role as director of the Informatics Club. Tony Cabot served as moderator.
The audience included many regional business leaders, notably the President of the Chamber Council, José Vicente Morata, and several Chamber of Commerce members. Other attendees included the new Port of Valencia president, Mar Chao, and leaders from major sectoral associations such as Marian Cano (footwear), José Antonio Pastor (Toys), Fede Fuster (Hosbec), and José Vicente Andreu (Asaja). Also present were Ineca president Ignacio Amirola, leaders from the Family Business Association, Maite Anton, the Consell’s second vice president Susana Camarero, and the Minister of National Education, José Antonio Rovira, along with the Elche mayor, Pablo Ruz, and numerous university and civil society representatives.
The conference title carried weight. Navarro pointed to two examples of how autonomy is treated. He cited the central government’s reluctance to enable the transfer of the Lady of Elche, noting the potential local economic impact estimated at 46 million euros according to a study by GNA and Cedelco. He warned that such benefits could “move elsewhere” unless adjustments are made, echoing a concern raised by Generalitat president Carlos Mazón as he asked, “If we can bring the Warriors from Xi’an with little cost, why not support the Lady?” It was a critique of excuses, in his view.
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With the call to climb from the 52nd position, Navarro highlighted Alicante’s ranking for the second consecutive year. He noted that General State Budgets allocate roughly 160 million euros to the province, about 85 euros per person. He quipped about the cost of a round trip to Madrid, touching on Chamartín and the National Archaeological Museum where the Lady of Elche is housed, to illustrate how minimal investment translates into limited regional growth. He warned that budgetary expansion should not keep investment at bay.
Navarro’s diagnosis of the reasons behind the gap is blunt. He argued that the region is simply not being taken into account. “We are underrepresented, not adequately defended, and we lack clear plans,” he said. In his view, the Valencian voice must demand its rightful place in Madrid and in Brussels, rather than acting in isolation.
Navarro urged business leaders in the Valencian Community to step forward and use their influence in state institutions where they have a presence. He argued for breaking down self-imposed barriers to gain visibility and clout in Madrid, Brussels, and beyond. He also called for the Consell to establish a Startup Autonomous Water Table to coordinate efforts across the autonomous communities on this shared issue.
Commitments
On the political front, Navarro spoke about the role of representatives and admitted he did not place high hopes on immediate changes. He urged citizens to vote with a Valencian focus and directed a message to Compromís, suggesting they should press Pedro Sánchez to join Sumar. He argued that in this community there is no need to seek forgiveness to support reform; what matters is applying just financial criteria to regional funding and investment. The emphasis lies on practical, measurable improvements rather than rhetoric.
He stressed that the region must keep attracting investment. Specifically, he called for reducing the tax burden on companies and avoiding new taxes on greenhouse gases that were previously contemplated, while also cutting bureaucratic red tape. He added that if a PSOE government comes to power, it could present an opportunity for Mazón and the Valencian leadership to push for meaningful reforms.