The next head of Generalitat, which will go to the polls after the 28 May elections, already has the first list of tasks to be tackled, drawn up by the Valencia Community’s main sectors. Representatives of about a dozen groups and economic structures reflect their most pressing needs and demand that the future Generalitat Government face different problems, the solution of which will be key to the development of Valencian autonomy.
From the historical demand for regional financing model reform to recent discussions on the introduction of a tourism tax, including the promotion of quality employment or the construction of educational infrastructures, the state of Alicante is laying out its demands a few weeks after the election.
Investments
The health, education, employment, tourism, trade unions, housing and youth sectors agree that encouraging new and larger investment will be key to reversing the situation in the Community that has deteriorated in recent months. to the socioeconomic consequences of both the coronavirus pandemic and the war between Russia and Ukraine. Nearly a dozen groups outline the policies that the next Council must develop if it is to address the basic needs of a large segment of Valencian society.
In an election context that is increasingly poll-adjusted, knowing how to accommodate the proposals of formations participating in regional elections in different electoral programs can be vital to shifting the balance and allowing for one of the two major blocs. Botànic’s reissue, or a change of government that, after eight years led by Ximo Puig, returns command of the Generalitat to Carlos Mazón’s Popular Party.
Health is committed to promoting pay equity and completely redesigning the existing protection system. Education requires building new decent infrastructures and expanding family involvement. The company claims to change the regional financing model and reduce administrative bureaucracy to streamline certain procedures.
Tourism rejects the tourist tax and insists on greater control of tourist apartments in residences. Unions demand policies that increase productivity and guarantee decent and secure employment and that education be oriented to business needs. The project owners claim that they are reviewing measures aimed at facilitating access to housing. Finally, young people focus on the housing emergency, mental health, and the environment.
Salary equalization and guards redesign
The healthcare industry has undoubtedly been one of the hardest hit sectors recently as a result of the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. In this sense, they point to different key points from the medical community that urgently need to be addressed at the regional level. In the first place, the adequacy of the working conditions of health workers and salary equalization with other autonomous communities with higher wages.
On the other hand, it emphasizes reducing health pressure in Primary Care by preparing “adequate” templates and increasing the number of specialists. In addition, the union demands the restructuring of the existing village guard system in order to eliminate the deficiencies such as not taking into account the contribution of health personnel.
Building decent education infrastructures
The parents’ associations of the Valencian Community are demanding more support for “honorable” educational infrastructures that guarantee adequate quality. FAPA Gonzalo Anaya also demands a “real and real” commitment to public schools and in Valencia, eliminating concerts and encouraging new construction and more staff resources, both teachers and non-teachers.
It also requires genuine participation of families in education centers and the Administration in decision-making processes. FAPA Gabriel Miró, for its part, agrees with the urgency of developing decent educational infrastructures, but demands that different education centers engage in “politics and brainwashing” while focusing on promoting participation “without genuine, discrimination and lack of resources”. The Community of Valencia reaches an autonomous agreement.
More funding and less bureaucracy
Esther Guilabert, general secretary of the Valencian Community Business Confederation (CEV), primarily points to one of the historical claims of the Valencia region: to review the regional financing model to get corresponding investments for its population. In this sense, he argues that the Spanish Government should cancel the contracted debt regardless of its color. The general secretary of the employers’ association also claims that excessive bureaucracy should be eliminated and administrative agility should be facilitated, as he thinks that projects, investments and public revenues cannot be lost due to “bureaucratic confusion”.
It also calls for easing the tax burden on economic units that are “call to activity and job creation”, as “public administration needs to be improved and the failed economy to be tackled” before increasing tax pressure. Finally, to achieve all these goals, Guilabert is also committed to an active advocacy of social dialogue.
Preliminary refusal to apply the tourist tax
“In our opinion, there is nothing more stupid in a market economy than imposing a tax on exports,” said Fede Fuster, president of the Hosbec hoteliers association. Stopping the measure, promoted by Botànic and rejected even by the region’s Minister of Tourism, Francesc Colomer, is a top priority for the industry.
In addition, Fuster wants more control of the “galloping attack” of tourist-occupied homes in residential blocks, which he guarantees has “no control whatsoever”. The head of the hotels association also sees better management of the European Union’s Next Generation funds as a priority, thus seeing it as a 60% or 70% lost opportunity, as with Feder funds. The return of aid to Europe has begun.
Increase productivity and adapt training
Employment will be one of the main axes of the coming period, the key to overcoming inflation and the economic consequences of the coronavirus and the war in Russia and Ukraine. That is why unions rely on measures that improve the productive fabric and make it possible to tailor the worker profile to the needs of the market. They are committed to the “holy trinity” of increasing productivity, added value and innovation from UGT.
They also think that a public workforce guidance system that is “strong” and that adjusts supply and demand, avoiding differences between the needs of companies and the unemployed, is key. For its part, CC OO claims to have implemented employment policies through regional agreements, combating all aspects of job insecurity, and intensifying surveillance for occupational health and protection of risks at work.
Accessibility for young people and disadvantaged families
The housing sector also presents its proposals for the person who leads the Valencian Community Government. In this case, it is aimed to facilitate access to this fundamental right. Jesualdo Ros, secretary-general of the Provincial Association of Real Estate Contractors in Alicante (Provia), highlights the need to create a “realistic framework” for affordable housing to achieve the goals of being able to own a home for young people and disadvantaged families.
For this, it is necessary to reflect and analyze the results of the legislation implemented in recent years with measures such as priority and right of withdrawal or rent assistance, apostille. In addition, it purports to review the Valencia Community’s Regional Strategy, which establishes a growth-permitting approach to innovative residential tourism as well as a General Directorate of Residential Tourism.
Mental health, the housing emergency and the environment
The presidency of Consell Valencià de la Joventut (CVJ), currently led by Àlvar López de Medina, centers its main claims around three main axes. On the one hand, tackle the housing emergency, which calls for “more ambitious measures” such as regulating rent and increasing the housing stock, which means a structural change that “has a deeper impact on the market”.
In addition, López de Medina claims that he will face the climate emergency by betting on the ecological transition of the production model so that it is less harmful to the environment. Finally, from the CVJ chair, they focus on focusing on mental health to avoid issues like anxiety, stress, and depression. To do this, they demand a health system and society that is ready to respond to young people’s mental health challenges.