Go forward or go back. Volkswagen or Gürtel’s gigafactory. Ximo Puig (Morella, 1959) arrives at the end of the campaign with a clear message. PSPV and Botànic’s only alternative is “PP-Vox” combined in the same phrase.
If you manage, what would be your first action?
The key is to end sexist violence: renew the deal and society act together against the worst inequality. From there, it’s a big deal for housing, as well as energy and assistance to extended families with two children to strengthen the welfare state. All this in the first hundred days.
After eight years, it’s not easy, why would you want to spend another four years?
You should be available as long as you feel useful and can help the Valencian Community flourish. I was able to confirm the tremendous maturity of the Valencian community in the most difficult years, united and we were able to emerge from the pandemic better than many other communities.
The polls give a good assessment of you and your government, but this does not mean a clear prediction of victory for the left. Because? The atmosphere of Madrid?
As election time approached, citizens put themselves in a situation where we were in danger, not the issues of who is running Madrid or the centralist agenda is putting the media. If what happens in the Valencian Community is decided and the Council’s management is expressly approved and we want a policy of progress, reconciliation of interests to continue, we should vote PSPV-PSOE.
Fear that the end of the campaign will be dirty before such a tight forecast?
PP polluted it from minute zero. He has no projects and PP-Vox today is trying to create a space of conflict and tension where the Valencian Community does not exist. The absence of a political project leads to an attempt to produce filth. We move on to recommendations.
Talk about the PP-Vox combo…
The alternative to the Socialist Party is PP-Vox, which we already know in the Valencian Community. The PP was in power for 20 years, and all indicators of 2015 improved after two crises: the financial crisis and the pandemic crisis. And there were two different outputs. The welfare state has improved despite many shortcomings. So this is a new beginning. Our obsession is work and well-being so that no one is left out.
Do you miss Mónica Oltra for activating certain layers of the left?
Each party has to make their own decisions and I respect Compromís’ decisions. Mobilization must also take place with regard to ideas, and these and the approval of the administration make this Government the capacity and solvency to seek re-vote.
If you’re managing with less ministry and more power density around you, how about a new Consell?
Structures must be related to the project. Consell should be updated, the decentralization process will continue, and their structures will be strengthened from the position that there should be one Government by improving the management of diversity.
Are you from the centre?
I am a progressive, social democratic person who understands that it is necessary to govern for the social majority.
Affected families, the middle classes, housewives and the elderly, lately. Has politics, especially the left, forgotten the broad masses in search of small groups?
Some identity struggles in some countries have obscured a progressive space. We intend to sew up the wounds of enormous inequality produced. For example, by measures such as the equalization of housewives who have been working for years and receive a non-contributory pension when they retire.
Those on the far left accuse them of making a policy of not disturbing them…
Politics is about reconciling interests. Not confrontation or twitch. Manichaeism, blacks and whites, encouraged by this new view of the right, is not the right field. There are those on the left who think so, but I disagree. It’s about finding a formula that allows for better growth and better redistribution. Because when a society produces inequality, ultimately the negative consequences concern the whole.
Have you noticed the pressure of many powers on Palau in these eight years?
No. I did not feel under any pressure.
Neither economic nor judicial?
Definitely. I have always followed the path of political autonomy when making decisions. It can never go away and that has happened here in the past.
Why isn’t there more Valencia pressure on the Province for new funding?
We have made progress in consolidating the unity of Valencians on the need for a change in the model, and we have been recognized in Spain that the Valencian Community is the worst funded society. But it’s not a Valencia problem, it’s a Spanish problem. A solution must be found in the next legislature. However, in these years, we managed to increase government revenues by almost 60% at least. It wasn’t enough, but we made progress. Now, any model will not work. Feijóo’s does not suit us.
Is there a deadline for reform?
We will speed up the whole process from the first day, whoever runs Madrid is running it. But it’s true that I don’t see possibilities for the next six months because if the PP can’t accept the change in the Judgment it will require a majority of the communities for funding.
The proposal has to be made by the Government, and the government did not…
He also made a very generic one that didn’t quite fit together. I criticize the government’s attitude because it has not accelerated enough, but it cannot do it alone. It is a shared responsibility.
Do you think you can go to court if there is no progress?
We have already brought it up and did not receive a positive response. A political solution must be found.
Will you increase taxes? If they offer more health care, more social care, more housing…
What cannot be said is that taxes will be reduced by 4,000 million euros. That’s outrageous, it means ignoring budget reality. This is miserably misleading. The truth is that in Spain in 2015, the lowest incomes paid the highest, and the highest paid the lowest. Now the lowest are those who pay the least, and the tallest are those who pay the most. We introduced a unanimous tax reform that positively impacted 97% of the population. In any case, we need more financial adequacy and increase the Welfare State across Spain.
Raising taxes?
No. It’s about being more efficient and redistributing spending. But PP cannot say that it will increase when it cuts all services. We renewed the entire health and education architecture. These are not election promises, but a fact.
Mazón says there is a lack of community spirit. can you share
The Valencian Community is more cohesive at the moment due to our shared responsibility to get out of the pandemic. There has been more unity than ever, and it is a mark of identity. There is a reactivation of a positive emotion.
Eight years later, what did your Consell do wrong?
In many things, of course, but the citizens will say. The situation is not very favorable, but the balance is very positive, because we have succeeded in creating social peace and great stability. You want to make an unreal darkness visible.
Do you have a plan b if there is no left-wing government? Will it stay in the courts?
I have no plan B I believe the people of Valencia will choose to look ahead and move forward.