The accounts presented by Consell for the 2024 financial year have sparked a spectrum of reactions across the political landscape. While the Valencian Government touts a narrative centered on efficiency, responsibility, and realism, opposition parties on the left frame the Generalitat’s regional budget project as a brake on social progress and as benefits skewed toward the wealthy in a time of growing inequality. These contrasting viewpoints reflect deeper debates about priorities, investment, and what kind of economic model best serves the mid-to-working classes in a region facing housing pressures, transport needs, and climate commitments.
During remarks this Monday, the PSPV-PSOE and Compromís reiterated their critique of the budget and aligned with comments previously raised by Botanic figures, who argued that the plan forgets the middle and working classes. Arcadi España, a deputy speaker for the Socialist faction in the Valencian Cortes and former Finance Minister in the last Botànic administration, framed the fiscal proposal as marking a pivot in policy. He asserted that these accounts fail to safeguard middle-income households and young people by cutting housing and public transport investments. He pointed to concrete reductions in budget lines, noting a 15% decrease in general policies and a 70 million euro cut in initiatives designed to promote transport and accessibility. The emphasis, he said, shifts away from critical social infrastructure and toward austerity that could hinder long-term growth and mobility for everyday residents.
España went further to claim that the draft project halts the region’s climate and water agendas. He argued that climate action, water quality improvements, and essential infrastructure investments have all faced reductions exceeding 423 million euros. He described the budget as a retreat from environmental protections and resilience efforts that are crucial for the region amid changing climate patterns and evolving water demands. In his view, the plan undercuts the tools needed to advance sustainable development and to protect vulnerable communities from environmental and economic shocks.
Isaura Navarro, the Compromís deputy speaker in the Valencian parliament, issued a statement emphasizing vigilance over the project. She warned that any measures diverging from Botànic’s established policies would be monitored and reported. Navarro critiqued that initial steps proposed by PP and Vox appear to favor a minority agenda, asserting that the current accounts are oriented toward a minority rather than the broad electorate that Botànic traditionally represents. The stance underscores ongoing tension over how policy choices translate into tangible benefits for the majority, particularly in terms of housing stability, transport accessibility, and social protections for lower-income residents.
On the business side, Valencian entrepreneurs offered a different reading of the 2024 budget, highlighting a balance between expenditures and revenues that signals a stable environment for business planning. The Valencian Community Business Confederation (CEV) welcomed what it described as realism and meticulousness in the allocation of items within the draft, coupled with a clear will to execute. These attributes were framed as essential for reducing uncertainty and fostering confidence among economic actors and taxpayers who fund public services through their contributions. The CEV stressed that predictable policy execution can support continued investment in the region’s productive capacity and job creation, even as global and domestic headwinds persist.
Moreover, the CEV argued that the overarching principles of financial management—responsible spending, disciplined budgeting, and transparent prioritization—provide a degree of certainty for businesses and households alike. This viewpoint links prudent public finance management with the ability of private sector players to plan, invest, and hire with greater assurance. In a climate of mixed signals from national and international markets, such stability can be a critical factor for sustaining growth and protecting local incomes from volatility. Yet the Confederation also cautioned that the broader environment remains challenging and that targeted support for competitive sectors may be necessary if regional economies slow down or face sector-specific difficulties. They urged policymakers to preserve and strengthen elements that boost competitiveness while ensuring that safeguards are in place for those most at risk of falling behind.