Duplicate bills and the hiring of Ximo Puig’s son in the spotlight

Ximo Puig, the president of the Generalitat Valenciana, addressed concerns about the legality of a hiring process tied to a company associated with his brother, Francesc Puig, who faces investigations into alleged subsidy fraud. The Valencia Fourth Division had initiated open cases against several firms, some of which were managed by the Civil Guard Division of the Judicial Police. Francesc Puig noted that one of the involved traders would receive a subsidy from the Generalitat thanks to the recruitment of the regional president’s son. The document does not declare the signature irregular, but it frames the action as part of a practice that could be used to justify recurrent public funding from multiple administrations, including Valencia.

“It’s clearly a manipulation. It’s a biased piece of news spread by the PP, a complaint about a company my brother works for and is part of. My son worked for three months, entirely within the law,” stated the head of Consell. He added that he was morally repulsed by the campaign and that the Education Ministry acted correctly, as justice has repeatedly confirmed.

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The discussion around duplicate bills and the hiring of Puig’s son continued as Puig recalled that the individual backing the complaint attempted to oppose Rubén Trenzano, the director-general of Language Policy, but justice ruled otherwise, determining that the aid was provided in a lawful manner.

Puig argued that the PP ignores the facts, asserting that those who should bear political responsibility are the ones denouncing the action as illegal while running a dirty campaign aimed at destabilizing the community. The investigation linking the president’s brother extends beyond Valencian borders, reaching Aragon and potentially Catalonia, where subsidies are allocated. The Cortes de Aragón’s PP parliamentary group demanded the appearance of Mayte Pérez, the Minister of the Presidency and a government spokesperson, at its Commission. Francesc Puig is identified as the brother of Ximo Puig, the Generalitat Valenciana president.

In Madrid, the situation prompted a notable encounter as Isabel Díaz Ayuso chose not to discuss the issue publicly. Ayuso expressed strong trust in Madrid’s mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, and commented on investigations involving two businessmen who could receive more than 6 million euros in commissions from the sale of COVID-19 materials. Regarding Ximo Puig’s brother, Ayuso limited her remarks to asserting that all cases should be treated equally.

Puig’s image alongside former allies was evident in Cortes’ discussions. A caption noted Puig meeting with Mónica Oltra in the Cortes’ room.

Without making “future” about Oltra

The Generalitat chief stated that he was not at all concerned about a potential indictment of vice-president Mónica Oltra in connection with a case alleging abuse of a minor in custody by her ex-husband. He stressed there was no dirty laundry to wash and expressed trust in the justice system while visiting a VET fair in Plaza del Ayuntamiento de València with Education Minister Vicente Marzà.

Puig emphasized confidence in justice and criticized the opposition’s alleged malicious conduct. He contrasted the current administration with a prior government described as a cradle of corruption and said the Consell is focused on moving forward and stabilizing the economy. He highlighted that large companies, including Volkswagen, have chosen to invest in the region, claiming that the Valencian community had moved ahead in reputation.

He criticized the political right for pursuing a divisive agenda and warned against efforts to permanently destabilize governance by allying with far-right factions. He underscored that public discourse should not be weaponized to undermine governance. When asked about Oltra’s potential future status, Puig avoided making predictions, reiterating his trust in justice and stating that the outcome would be determined by the legal process.

Puig: Government deals absolutely necessary to consider financing

Puig affirmed that it is crucial to rethink the regional financing model within state-level agreements and indicated he would address the matter with the president. He noted that the government in Madrid and the PP leadership should engage on the issue. He called for a renewed regional agreement dating back to the early 1980s, stressing that financing is a key pillar of any such arrangement. The meeting between the Spanish prime minister and the PP leader did not address this topic, but Puig made clear that regional financing must stay on the agenda as it underpins the welfare state for all communities.

Puig argued that strengthening the welfare system requires adequate resources and warned against postponing the discussion due to financial shortfalls. He said that the system should not be allowed to weaken and that a robust, well-funded welfare state is essential for society. He suggested that any future government deals should include regional financing as a fundamental element and expressed willingness to press the matter with national leaders. He warned that neglecting this funding would perpetuate debt and undermine public services, insisting that the issue must be resolved within national pacts to support autonomous communities.

In his view, the financial gap challenges all autonomous regions first and then affects broader national stability. He emphasized the need to reactivate the economy and curb price increases while ensuring a robust welfare state that covers the entire population. He stated that financing should be actively considered in state-level agreements and that Valencia would not back away from demanding adequate resources to sustain public services.

Notes: The information presented reflects ongoing political discourse and investigations surrounding regional funding and public contracts. Attribution: reported statements and parliamentary proceedings as covered by regional and national media outlets.