Months ago, advisers to Ximo Puig concluded that the Consell president had room to grow in the mid lane before the 28M regional elections. The likely disappearance of the Ciudadanos vote map leaves more than 460,000 voters in the Valencian Community without a clear home, a prize that Palau’s insiders believe can be captured, aided by Puig’s evident presidential influence.
Economy became a central pillar of this strategy, leveraging the moderate profile of the socialists. Botànic’s leader signaled a business-friendly stance in the final stretch of the term, backing employers against hostile moves from the administration and introducing an inheritance tax bonus for family businesses regardless of income. A broad tax reform was also approved in the Cortes.
This centrist commitment was reaffirmed during Puig’s Friday meeting with the Valencian Entrepreneurs Association (AVE), which will hold further discussions in the coming days with prominent business figures like Juan Roig and Vicente Boluda, alongside other candidates for the Generalitat.
Puig arrived at the gathering with proposals to expand the private sector’s role in public life through new cooperation agreements between the administration and business sector. Housing was highlighted as a priority area, with the socialist leadership pledging to place it at the top of the agenda if they win the 28M.
Presidential sources note that Puig pledged to advance legislation that would “simplify and speed up” the process of releasing public land to private developers for subsidized housing (VPO) through agreements with supporters.
Sources add that the measures would not be reckless, and the housing plan includes additional pillars aimed at boosting public real estate. Puig also pointed to the success of public-private partnerships in reducing health waiting lists and flagged potential future deals in education to enhance collaboration with the private sector, especially in vocational training where vacancies and unemployment remain concerns.
Another proposal brought to AVE was the simplification of bureaucratic procedures, a longtime demand of the business community. The socialist leadership chose to broaden the uses of positive administrative silence and to implement responsible declarations in new processes.
big turning point
Volkswagen, a key economic milestone for the region, could not ignore this approach toward industry. Puig highlighted the Consell’s solvency, discipline, and stability, and pledged to attract more companies and greater investment. He spoke of tangible projects, including efforts to attract tractor-related ventures tied to semiconductor manufacturing, a sector the European Union has prioritized after recent supply disruptions with notable impact across Europe, including the Valencian Community. The local auto sector, with ties to Ford, would also feel the effects of these plans.
The regional financing debate raised by Boluda during the meeting remains important. Puig proposed promoting the Mediterranean Corridor and emulating the unity model that created an autonomous financing pathway, insisting that the next legislature should ensure fair financing across the region.
On business demands, there were no dramatic new ideas. The AVE’s ten-point program was not publicly released, but Boluda indicated that significant cuts would include new tax relief for Valencian firms to keep them competitive with other regions. The priorities identified by the AVE president included health, finance, water, taxes, infrastructure, and other issues affecting civil society [Citation: AVE briefing].