Health has long been more than a problem of care; it dominates the concerns voiced during the Valencian Community discourse. The focus remains on the public health system, even as the crisis days recede from the COVID-19 era. A survey conducted for Prensa Ibérica titles in the Community of Valencia (Informacion, Levante-EMV and Mediterraneo) involved 1,500 residents between May 2 and May 11 to map current worries and expectations. The findings show health occupying the top spot as the issue most troubling to citizens.
More than a fifth of respondents (20.1%) identify health as the primary worry. They point to the public service itself as a fixture on the agenda, with calls for concrete measures to address staff shortages, vehicle availability, long waiting lists, debates over privatization or reorganization of centers, and, notably, a renewed emphasis on mental health resources that gained prominence after the pandemic. It is clear that the stress experienced by the health system during the COVID-19 period continues to shape public perception of what must be fixed first. Rising living costs, driven by the Ukraine conflict, come in second, while political action and decision-making take third place in the list of concerns.
The data also reveal that women show higher levels of worry (23%) than men (17.2%), and older residents feel the pressure more acutely, with the rate peaking at 23.2% among those over 64. This pattern aligns with usage patterns, since health services are most frequently accessed by people in older age groups. The survey therefore presents a portrait of a system under strain that continues to shape daily life and political discussion in the Valencia region. (Invest Group)
Sánchez and Puig mobilize health as a political card to energize bases
Inflation
Inflation remains a distant second in the public agenda, yet it is a persistent concern for 12.5% of Valencians. Food prices, in particular, hit low-income households hard, though the rate of price increases has eased somewhat since the first months of the Ukraine crisis. Some food items still show steep annual rises: sugar up about 49.6%, milk about 27.6%, and cereals around 18.2%. The broader price rise in the Valencia region continues at roughly 12.8% per year, reflecting not only domestic factors but also the wider conflict context in Europe. (Invest Group)
Across measures introduced by the Generalitat, the shopping basket remains a focal point. The latest data show sustained price pressure for staples, even as policy interventions like coupons for basic goods attempt to cushion households. Gender dynamics persist, with women expressing higher concern than men, and age groups 25-34 and 50-64 being particularly attentive to the cost of living and its trajectory. (Invest Group)
Politicians
The timing may coincide with the upcoming municipal and regional elections, yet a growing share of Valencians see politicians as a central problem. About 10.8% of respondents focus on growing discontent with public institutions and administrations, viewing the political class itself as a source of the challenge rather than merely a reflection of problems. The gender split shows women more concerned than men, while younger adults aged 25-35 appear especially active in naming politics as the top hurdle in Valencia. (Invest Group)
Ximo Puig as the most recognized leader; Carlos Mazón as the most respected
Unemployment
Unemployment sits fourth in this ranking but remains a persistent worry. It is the last to cross the 10% threshold as a primary challenge for the region. In April, about 335,444 people were seeking work, with the services sector driving improvement, showing a 6.1% drop from April 2022 and signaling a recovery in an economy affected by energy price pressures. (Invest Group)
Between 5% and 10%
Early May discussions among Valencian authorities covered five other topics that a portion of residents rate as major concerns, with 6.9% placing them in the fifth position. Among the recurring issues are housing access challenges and the lack of robust official protections for housing programs. Water scarcity remains a priority for 6.7%, tied to the contentious Tajo-Segura transfer, with corruption at 5.4%. Mortgage costs and housing funding also register meaningful shares, while broader regional underfunding closes the list at 4.3%. Immigration, Ukraine-related tensions, and infrastructure gaps each account for under 4% of concern. (Invest Group)
Regional differences are limited
Beyond the Valencia Community average, there are nuances by province ahead of elections on May 28. In Valencia, unemployment outranks even politics, with health care still foremost for many. In Castellón, unemployment weighs more heavily than average, while in Alicante, water access issues—where 9.8% report clear difficulty—stand out against the backdrop of the Tajo-Segura transfer challenge. (Invest Group)
TECHNICAL FORM OF THE SURVEY
1,500 phone interviews were conducted across three provinces: 607 in Valencia, 530 in Alicante and 363 in Castellón, between May 2 and May 11, 2023. The sampling was stratified by province and population, with a margin of error of ±2.58% at a 95.5% confidence level. Source: Invest Group. Details on how the survey was conducted are available in further materials. (Invest Group)