Popular Group Ombudsman, a title inspired by the afternoon hours, spoke during the Valencia Cortes plenary, addressing a chamber energized by political momentum. A spokesperson for the PP described the May 28 election results as a sociological shift, noting that Barrachina highlighted victories in 27 of the Valencia Community’s 33 districts. The moment signaled a wider narrative: change is visible across provincial lines, and it is translating into leadership energy at the regional level.
In his remarks, Barrachina directed his comments at both the outgoing government and the PPCV candidate and president, Carlos Mazón. He urged the former administration to face the reality of voter sentiment and to acknowledge the call to wake up from the election results, which reflected loyalty to a political base even as defeats mounted. He then extended congratulations to Mazón twice, recognizing both his candidacy and his presidency as part of a larger, sustained message about political direction. The speaker framed this as a broad and sweeping transition, expressing pride in how Mazón has guided the party through the recent period of change.
Barrachina spoke about the fortitude required to lead after a resounding victory and the duty to keep promises once a mandate is secured. He highlighted Mazón’s stated intention to engage across the spectrum, noting that the president promised to talk with everyone and to extend a hand across the aisle. Confronting the opposition’s stance, Barrachina criticized the PSOE for what he described as “odes” to deals and charged that progressive factions sometimes use a “double measure.” He then cataloged the debt and financial challenges inherited from the prior regional administration, underscoring a record of national debt as a point of accountability in the post-election period.
Miguel Barrachina greets Carlos Mazón after finishing his speech at the nominating plenary.
Critique of Policy and Ethics
Barrachina pressed Mazón to avoid what he called ethical bankruptcy and cited the controversial “yes is yes” Act, pointing to cases where sentences were reduced for more than a thousand sex offenders under that rule. Referencing a high-profile example, he urged the president to take decisive steps to prevent the release of individuals accused of child molestation. He also highlighted concerns about public health and social welfare, noting that more than a million Valencians had felt the impact of reduced access to health services due to waiting lists and stretched resources. The speaker described the region as one of the few where basic public amenities, such as sanitation facilities, were not given adequate attention, underscoring a broader call for governance with stronger accountability and efficiency.
Finally, and with a nod to the broader ideological landscape, Barrachina urged Mazón to honor rural communities by respecting the traditional pillars of life in the countryside, including hunting, fishing, and bullfighting, framing these as essential cultural and regional prerogatives. The emphasis was on safeguarding regional identity while pursuing modernization and reform, aligning with a base that values autonomy and local traditions.
In response, Carlos Mazón expressed gratitude to his team and accepted the challenge with a practical demeanor, acknowledging Barrachina’s remarks as part of the ongoing dialogue that defines leadership during the transition. He thanked María José Catalá, the Valencia mayor, who sat nearby throughout the session, and paid tribute to party colleagues who had helped shape the electoral victory. Mazón referenced the general secretary and the party’s trusted advisors from the previous legislature as the architects of a victory that increased the party’s representation from nineteen to forty deputies, signaling a renewed mandate for a more assertive regional agenda.
The plenary stood as a moment of transition—an opportunity to map how the PP would navigate a landscape in which electoral results were framed as both a rebuke of past policies and a call for a refreshed, pragmatic approach to governance. The exchanges reflected the tension between tradition and reform, and between accountability for past choices and the promise of a more inclusive, action-oriented administration. The session concluded with a shared sense that the political stage was set for a period of intense policy discussion, coalitions where possible, and a redefinition of regional priorities as the new leadership took formal hold. The record reflects Valencia Cortes as the venue for a pivotal shift in regional politics and the ongoing conversation about the path forward while managing expectations for accountability and reform.