The chamber’s latest scene already signaled a change: a long table and a chair facing the podium in the center of the hemicycle. It stood as a visual emblem of the debut of the Popular Legislative Initiatives, four in total, unveiled just a fortnight after a parliamentary rule change allowed the promoting entities to present themselves in plenary. Through this channel, the CSIF union, Stepv, the Hablamos Español organization, and the Valencian federation of ERC presented their proposed laws, though only the CSIF proposal would advance in parliamentary steps, with broad cross-party consensus. The moment underscored a new openness in the assembly and framed the rest of the debate around the rights and procedures of citizen-led legislation. (Source attribution: regional parliamentary coverage)
The vote is scheduled for Thursday, but the interventions already clarified positions and delivered a surprise: the PP party dissented from Hablamos Español’s proposal on language choice and announced it would not support its processing. “There are nuances that prevent our backing for this proposal,” stated Eduardo Dolón, the Popular Party deputy, noting that as many as eight articles appear to violate the Valencian Statute of Autonomy. Dolón also announced that the party is preparing its own bill to guarantee educational freedom. “Please be patient,” he added. (Source attribution: regional press briefing)
“What a pity and a betrayal of the voters” responded Gloria Lago, president of the organization, who predicted that the upcoming proposal would resemble a half-finished patchwork. The exchanges grew more tense during the debate with Nathalie Torres of Compromís, the single party to oppose all four ILPs. “It is an amendment to the whole consensus, an attack on the Statute and on the Valencian language, a legislative stench,” Torres argued. Lago had previously described mandatory immersion as a pedagogical aberration. Between sharp exchanges, applause and boos from supporters in favor of Hablamos Español and from language-rights organizations occupying the public gallery, the ideological clashes were on full display. (Source attribution: live coverage and party statements)
One of Four
The only proposal that progressed to parliamentary consideration was the CSIF one, backed by all groups. It seeks to ensure that all non-university educational centers in the Valencian Community have a School Nursing service “as soon as possible.” The aim is a model where clinical care is integrated with preventive and educational components. It also addresses issues such as prevention and treatment of addictions, school bullying, violence in classrooms, eating disorders, suicide prevention or self-harming behaviors, and the care of students with chronic health problems, disability, or mental health needs. Vicente Navarro, president of CSIF Health in Castellón, elaborated on the plan, describing its comprehensive scope and potential benefits. (Source attribution: CSIF statements and regional education policy briefings)
The proposals from Stepv on reducing student-teacher ratios and the Valencian ERC federation on free access to sustainable menstrual hygiene products appear to have no parliamentary path forward. Both were met with limited support from PSPV and Compromís, despite socialist criticisms of ERPV’s proposal. Ultimately, with a decisive majority for PP and Vox in the chamber, those ideas were expected to stall. (Source attribution: floor debates and party positions)