The Generalitat submitted its 2024 draft budget to the Cortes, totaling 29,372 million euros, marking a 4.5% rise from 2023 and arriving one day earlier than planned. Early projections from PP and Vox officials point to higher revenue under the state financing framework and a forecasted tax intake of about 1,000 million more in 2023, despite ongoing tax relief measures. The Consell, however, did not disclose regional investment figures for Alicante that day, prompting PSPV-PSOE to accuse the administration of withholding information and failing transparency commitments.
PSPV criticized the decision by PP and Vox not to release investment data for Alicante alongside the Budget Bill. They recalled that when Botànic’s latest projections were unveiled last year, it was clear that 610 million had been injected into the state. Ana Barceló, a former councillor and spokesperson for the socialist municipal group in Alicante, urged scrutiny of Carlos Mazón, the head of the Generalitat, for allegedly concealing investments in the province. She added that the publicly known calculations include reductions in key service areas.
In this context, the Consell’s unfinished business in Alicante ranges from new TRAM lines to the construction or renovation of schools and hospitals, including projects related to the Júcar-Vinalopó river transfer that would ensure water reaches all irrigation schemes. Mazón’s administration inherits a substantial list of projects from Botànic, with many items still pending in Infrastructure, Education, and Health.
Complaint
Socialist criticism has focused on the claim that Ximo Puig’s administration injected 610 million into Alicante last year, compensating for state accounts that had left the province short of investment. It is noted that Botànic’s regionalized investment in Alicante was the largest in history, representing a significant share of the total allocated to the Valencian Community. Consell has responded by accusing the socialist government of inflating revenue in their budgets, delivering only partial implementations, and relying on European funds to fill gaps.
State President Toni Pérez, aligned with the Popular party, offered remarks on the recently announced budgets. He highlighted more than 8.5 billion directed to public health by the Mazón administration and stated that, after eight years of perceived inertia in the Valencian Government, attention is turning to the issues affecting Alicante. He argued that cooperation with the central government is sharpening the focus on regional financing rather than political rivalries.
Regarding the budgets presented on Monday, the accounts show an absolute increase of 1,300 million compared with Botànic’s final framework. Yet real expenditure—excluding debt service—rises only about 2.3%. A substantial portion of the new funds goes toward meeting debt maturities and interest, which means not all of the money translates into direct services for residents. Notably, total spending reaches 22,670 million, with roughly 18,432 million earmarked for social programs, an increase of around 400 million in official estimates, a 2.1% rise.
During the press briefing, Ruth Merino, the treasury spokesperson and head of the department, underscored the legacy of Botànic in shaping debt and deficit challenges. She also pointed out the lack of clarity from the central government regarding financing for the preparation of these accounts.
According to Merino, interest payments are projected to jump from 412 million in 2023 to 870 million next year, a 112% rise. In addition to debt maturities, the Generalitat plans to allocate 7,948 million to liabilities in the current year. The personnel department is also expanding spending, driven in large part by salary increases agreed at the state level.
On revenue, the draft relies on the state’s36 financing framework estimates since the exact amount of regional financing is not yet known. The Consell anticipates revenue of about 15.5 billion, based on the central framework and tax administration projections. [Citation: Valencia regional financial briefing, official summaries.]