Valencia marks 40 years of autonomy with calls for unity and reform

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The president of the Generalitat, Ximo Puig, underscored the power of words and the need for reconciliation during the 40th anniversary act for the Statute of Autonomy of the Valencian Community. This ceremony, held at the Palacio de las Comunicaciones in Valencia, was attended by the regional government, representatives from diverse institutions, and civil society to mark four decades of self-government. Only half of the regional parliament joined the event (PSPV-PSOE, Compromís, and Unides Podem), as the opposition groups (PP, Cs, and Vox) declined the invitation in protest against the proposal. The banner chosen for the occasion, 40 anys fent country, signaled a focus on regional distinctiveness and a call for unity in public life. Former president Joan Lerma also attended, a key figure when the 1982 legal text was approved.

“The Valencian voice is the voice that dialogues, accepts, and proposes. It speaks without shouting, without tension, and without polarizing others. It builds bridges and breaks down walls with the most noble material, the word”, Puig stated during his address. He emphasized the need to move toward a federal understanding of the country, envisioning a Spain where centralism fades away and the idea of a unified federation becomes a common, just, and efficient framework. He described yesterday’s centralization as unfair and ineffective, urging a future where all regions participate on equal terms. He also noted the current funding gaps, pointing out that recent budget allocations fell short of expectations and underscoring the ongoing effort to overcome underfunding.

The regional leader recalled the Valencian struggle for self-government and argued that the significant political and legal advances of 1982 made it possible to secure rights and freedoms, largely through transfers and cooperative governance. He highlighted moments that demonstrated autonomous capacity, such as responses to the pandemic and the arrival of major investments like the Volkswagen gigafactory in Sagunto, which he partly attributed to international partnerships and stable governance rooted in social dialogue.

This framework has guided coexistence and cooperation in the Valencian community. Some attendees did not participate today on grounds of disagreement with the agenda. A comment by @CarlosMazon40 suggested that dissent should not become an excuse for mischaracterization. The message from @JosefinaBueno1 echoed the sentiment that the celebration should be a moment to reflect on shared history rather than argumentative terminology.

Opposition groups chose not to attend the event, but they quickly became focal points for public discussion. Early morning campaigns by leading figures on Valencian left criticized the organizers on social networks, directing attention toward Carlos Mazón, head of the Diputación de Alicante and leader of the PPCV. The event also featured figures such as the new Minister of Innovation, Josephine Goodor, and the PSPV-PSOE representative in the Valencian Courts, Main Barcelona. Puig himself noted that regional and provincial leaders from Valencia and Castellón were present and engaged in the commemoration.

Public supporters reaffirmed a regional pride in Valencian produce and culture. A notable message from the Popular Party of the Valencian Community highlighted support for local citrus across Europe and included a visual post from Mazón meeting with European health and safety authorities to discuss trade and agricultural protections. The travel and diplomatic exchanges underscored a broader effort to defend regional products and ensure fair treatment within European markets.

In parallel, Mazón traveled to Rotterdam to meet with European officials and to press for stronger safeguards against illegal citrus imports. The emphasis remained on protecting Valencia’s agricultural heritage while seeking balanced regulatory approaches that support local growers and regional identity.

“Open to citizens”

During the event, Rosa Pérez Garijo, the Minister for Regional Participation, Transparency, Cooperation and Democratic Quality, urged that the 40th anniversary be celebrated as a milestone that adds value to a project felt by the people. She stressed the importance of recognizing all who contributed to restoring and strengthening self-government, including countless unnamed individuals who helped shape Valencia’s public institutions.

Perez Garijo described self-government as a lasting effort that must stay vibrant to meet evolving challenges across the community. She pointed to the constitutional reform debate as a signal that the region should continue advocating for just and necessary improvements, including revisions to civil and family law to reflect current needs.

Joan Lerma, a former Consell president, also reflected on the hurdles that prevented earlier ratification of the Statute, while acknowledging the transformative potential the region holds today. Commemoration commissioner Joan Sifre spoke of a sense of joy for what has been achieved and remarked that Fent country — a Valencian expression — symbolizes unity and affection for institutions and land that have shaped four decades of shared life.

The event featured a multipart program that began with a retrospective look at how the Statute has shaped up over forty years. A second segment from the Alcoià region showcased live performances by a local young band and included recorded testimonies from medical professionals, historians, trade unionists, and artists. The narratives of four Valencian citizens born in 1982 were used to illustrate imagined futures for the community, reflecting on the balance between history and aspiration for the next era of regional development.

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