For the first time in history, this Wednesday the ombudsperson will defend their annual report before the plenary of the Valencian Cortes. Ángel Luna will open the session in the regional Parliament to present the content of the annual report, and to answer questions from the four groups represented there: the two governing groups, the People’s Party and Vox, and the two in opposition, the PSPV-PSOE and Compromís.
Until now, the defense of the junior ombudsperson’s annual memory was conducted before the Petitions Committee. The 2021 reform of the Síndic de Comptes law now allows the ombudsperson to appear before the plenary, giving their speech greater visibility. The session will start at 10:30 a.m. and can be watched live online, both on the Parliament’s own channel and on YouTube. Article 53 of the new Síndic de Greuges law states that, before the current session period ends, the ombudsperson may participate in the plenary.
The office of the Síndic de Greuges was created in December 1988. Its statute was amended in 2021, a move aimed at strengthening the role further. Among the changes, it is now possible for the ombudsperson to appear before the Cortes plenary, a first-time occurrence this Wednesday. This allows the intervention to reach a wider audience since any resident of the Valencian Community can follow the speech live. Other recent measures include publishing the ombudsperson’s reports on the official website, including complaints, resolutions, responses from the administration, and coordination with collaborating institutions.
In the report released by Ángel Luna last March, the ombudsperson highlights a worrying rise of 5,000 people on the waiting list in the department. In his presentation to the Cortes, he charged that the administration remains a difficult environment for citizens and disclosed that the Social Services sector accounts for 42 percent of the complaints. The latest annual management report also notes that lack of resources can no longer be used as an excuse and points to Benidorm and Sant Joan d’Alacant as examples of areas where information to opposition members has been lacking.
5.000 people
In the document Luna presented, the growing backlog and the perceived hostility of the administrative system toward residents were emphasized, alongside critiques of how municipal bodies handle social services inquiries and the transparency of local government communications. The report calls for stronger oversight, more responsive public services, and clearer channels for citizens to engage with authorities. The ombudsperson’s office maintains that improvements in resource allocation, better communication with municipalities, and more robust mechanisms for accountability will lead to swifter resolutions and greater public trust. This Wednesday’s plenary appearance will be a pivotal moment in measuring progress and setting a course for future reforms. [Citation: Síndic de Greuges, Valencia Community Council]