A few days ago, Carlos Mazón, president of the Generalitat, urged at the Nueva Economía Fórum for the Valencian Community to join a quiet, public commitment to defend the expansion of the Port of Valencia. The author concedes a liking for the idea, provided that the conspiracy is understood as a shared, transparent plan rather than a hidden pact aimed at someone or something. The Valencian Community needs a public, visible approach—clear, spoken, and engaged—so that decisions in the institutions produce concrete results rather than miss opportunities.
The goal is to reach a consensus about the benefits for the whole region, not just a portion of it. The aim is to craft a strategy that prevents Valencia from being overlooked, ensures it earns the recognition it deserves, and invites the Confederation of Employers to step forward as a Valencian ally in achieving this objective.
The first step is to transform the unfair aspects of current policies. There is no justification to avoid changing the financing system when a similar degree of support is being negotiated by some Catalan parties. The government pact with ERC includes measures such as substantial debt forgiveness. While the author does not condemn debt relief in principle, it is clear that Valencia has long demanded fair financing and has repeatedly received evasive replies. Now, it appears possible that debt forgiveness would be pursued to preserve government stability, a fact that should prompt Valencian representatives to defend Valencia with the same vigor they apply to other communities.
Valencia deserves equal advocacy from its MPs, just as other regions receive
There should be no wait for the new General State Budgets to be released before acting. The region ought to feel dissatisfied with the status quo rather than complacent. The coalition’s stated goals—ambition and hope—should translate into tangible action, including preventing Alicante from finishing last in investments once again.
The government that professes to guarantee equal opportunities and to implement a fair, effective regional policy must be reminded that Alicante’s per capita income has been stagnant for more than two decades and is only beginning to rise. Although these numbers lag behind the national average and the euro zone, the General State Budgets remain a tool to rebalance regional disparities, yet they increasingly appear unfair to Alicante. The constitutional principle that all Spaniards share equal rights and obligations across the country should guide policy. The financing system’s inequities raise questions about how social privileges and obligations are allocated by region, especially given the province’s relatively low weight in GDP.
The message also highlights the inequity of denying water needed by farmers, tourism, and industry. The region can point to strong achievements in water reuse, with Alicante province reporting a 72% reuse rate and Vega Baja reaching 100%. This performance supports objections to continued cuts in the Tajo-Segura transfer and strengthens calls for a National Water Pact grounded in technical assessment free from ideological influence.
The start of a new legislature presents an opportune moment to place three priorities on the agenda for Alicante: financing, investments, and water. These topics should take precedence over other concerns. The goal is to defend legitimate interests without harming others and to ensure that other autonomous communities recognize the fairness and reasonableness of Valencia’s demands.
There is also a responsibility to learn from past mistakes. Allowing personalism to drive policy, rather than robust arguments, risks biased judgments and needless conflicts that benefit those who resist financing and investment in water. This situation calls for disciplined, evidence-based advocacy from Valencian leadership.
It seems the region has not consistently played its cards well. The way forward is straightforward: collaboration and unity are the keys to greater visibility, stronger respect, and higher effectiveness for Valencia and Alicante alike.