Héctor Illueca, a candidate for the presidency of the Unides Podem-EU Generalitat, first dined at his friend Susana, known as Sus. The meal featured a roasted lamb that, in his memory, proved fatal—but only in legend, not in truth. It began as a breakfast of election nerves and family lore, with Sus recalling the dinner as a turning point in their circle.
In Sagunt de València, posters might be scarce, but the campaign day had already begun. It was nine in the morning, and children rushed to school just before the bell, while Illueca recounted trying the lamb and calling it beautiful and delicious. The surrounding family teased him, saying it was deadly. The neighborhood bustled with life as shops opened and workers moved along the streets. Sus ordered a decaf latte on a terrace where a housing activist spoke with this publication about her long friendship with Illueca. Their bond stretches back about fifteen years to Valencia’s social movements. Illueca often describes himself as a former student of Anguita, a point Sus confirms. Their first meetings linked him to the Mortgage Affected Platform (PAH), the Civil Front movement, and the dignity marches that followed their lead, as well as the 15M movement. Personal history deepened his ties to Sus and to housing struggle, which has remained central since Sus lost her home during the crisis. Today, Illueca continues to pay fees for an apartment controlled by a vulture fund, a situation that has persisted for years.
As Illueca speaks, a school mural can be seen in the background. What lessons come through from their conversations? Sus notes that the two share a foundation of mutual respect. When they crossed paths with the Minister of Housing through the Civil Front and PAH assemblies, they realized their styles differed: Illueca’s patience versus Sus’s urgency for immediate changes. They found a balance, and Sus recalls Illueca as funny and deeply ironic. She also mentions his fondness for tripe, a dish brought to her by family from the Serranos region, which she often highlights in her networks, especially during busy periods. Paella is another favorite.
Sus remembers that after each meeting, discussions with comrades were lively and heated, with beer flowing and debates sharpening the edge of their work. They were partners, until a moment when friendship endured: he encouraged perseverance, she often said the line about Malay drops and staying quiet together. In 2014, Sus had to leave her home to rent and still faced a mortgage on an apartment she would never own. She reflects that gaining employment became the turning point; losing a home removes a sense of security that anchors a family. Illueca learned something from those experiences, too.
According to Sus, Illueca is funny, ironic, playful, and a reader who loves animals. She recalls the day he adopted a dog and joked about his nickname, asking if the dog’s name was Tro, only to laugh when the answer was Comrade Tro. Recently, Illueca welcomed a new companion named Boira, a dog Sus enjoys walking through their neighborhood together.
family remains central
Shared time includes relaxed evenings and mutual interests. They both enjoyed watching True Blood at the same time, and family life always takes priority for Illueca. He makes it a point to return home to sleep, even while campaigning far across the Valencian Community. His daughter and wife, who hails from a nearby town, anchor him, while a move to Murcia for Fortuna reminds him that family is the anchor. Sus adds that Illueca loves taking walks with Boira, observing, thinking, and reading. She believes this habit is something he passes on to his daughter. Their last public meeting was at a book launch, and now campaign demands make such moments rarer. Still, they hope for another chance to share a tripe dish in Chelva or a beer in the Sagunt de València neighborhood.
Activism and commitment define Illueca for Sus: politics touches every part of life, shaping choices and priorities. If the friendship described here were a song, it might be a Pau Alabajos piece about idealists and innocence—an ode to unwavering conviction and shared sentiment that binds two people through politics, home, and hope.