Prensa Ibérica, the leading information group in the Valencian Community, which publishes INFORMACIÓN, Levante-EmV, Mediterráneo, and Superdeporte, decided to cancel a planned election debate among the candidates for the Generalitat presidency. The decision followed Ximo Puig, the Generalitat head and incumbent Socialist candidate, opting not to participate in the event.
Invitations were promptly and clearly extended to all parliamentary parties to participate in the May 22 debate, broadcast on Valencian Community television networks and the outlets operated by Prensa Ibérica across its three provincial capitals.
The group explains that Puig’s refusal to engage with the process prompted cancellation. Without the participation of one of the main contenders, the editors felt readers would not receive a balanced, fully informed view of the election. The option to proceed with a broader forum that included every candidate was central to the publication’s editorial responsibility.
As the foremost information group in the region, Prensa Ibérica committed to hosting a debate that would give all presidential hopefuls a platform to present proposals directly, enabling citizens to probe core issues such as housing affordability, rising living costs, environmental risk, and health and social care.
the exact date
The group clarifies that the cancellation relates solely to Puig and the PSPV-PSOE decision to decline the invitation. It also extended apologies to other candidates who had agreed to participate for any disruption the decision caused.
According to information from INFORMACIÓN, Levante-EMV, and Mediterráneo, the debate was scheduled for May 22, one day after the three papers released a jointly commissioned poll that projected likely outcomes for the ballot. The plan was to host the Valencia event with a host from Levante-EMV and with heads of political departments of the participating parties, followed by questions from multiple candidates.
Latest data from Comscore shows Prensa Ibérica as the leading news and information group in Spain. In the Valencian Community, its three general titles reach a substantial audience, highlighting the region as a strong market for regional journalism.
Recent Comscore figures for the prior month show Levante-EMV with a notable audience, INFORMACIÓN with a solid reader base, and Mediterráneo with a growing digital presence. Together, these newspapers form a robust information ecosystem that reflects the latest local, national, and international developments and serves millions of readers seeking reliable coverage.
Overall, Prensa Ibérica’s performance underscores the importance of editorial independence and the role of major regional outlets in shaping public discussion. The outcome of the polls and reader expectations remains a focal point for national and regional audiences who rely on these outlets for timely, accurate reporting and informed commentary.