Valencian Government: Pact, Priorities, and Early Debates

Valencian Government Inauguration and Policy Debates

This Monday, the eleventh legislative term of the Valencian Parliament will begin. In the new era, the People’s Party and Vox will hold power following the pact announced on the thirteenth. A few days later, they released the fifty-point framework that will guide their initial actions. The identities of the president of the Cortes and most ministers, who will come from the Ultra party, remain to be disclosed. It is certain that Carlos Mazón will serve as president of the Generalitat and Vicente Barrera, a former matador associated with Vox, will be vice president.

Beyond these names, the two parties inherit a Valencian Community grappling with multiple challenges, from gender-based violence that sparked the early tensions between PP and Vox to calls for fair regional funding. Amid these issues, several urgent matters demand immediate solutions: tax reductions, the erosion of Primary Care, multilingualism, mobility, the push for renewable energy, and debates over ecological transition are all on the radar.

GENDER VIOLENCE

first disagreement

Less than 24 hours after the PP-Vox fifty-point government plan, which references a term used by the far right, was announced, tensions began to surface. The trigger came from Vox’s number two, José María Llanos, who stated that gender-based violence does not exist. He later corrected the remark in a Twitter post, but the damage had already been done.

The PP responded quickly, with Mazón and then national leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo speaking out. “There is gender violence. This is a scourge I will fight to protect women,” asserted the future head of the Generalitat. His government will not retreat; it will strengthen protections for women across all fronts.

LOW TAX

one of the big priorities

Tax relief is a cornerstone of Mazón’s program. His plan targets 80% of Valencians and aims to harmonize fiscal measures with a balanced approach that preserves public resources under the welfare state. Mazón’s stance aligns with other leading regional figures who advocate tax relief as a driver of growth.

During the campaign, Mazón promised to reform personal income tax to benefit low- and middle-income earners. He described the reform as the most ambitious in the region, projecting savings well above 1,750 million euros. Additionally, the Property Transfer Tax is expected to fall from 10% to 6% for homes below 250,000 euros.

PRIMARY CARE

Stop the “collapse”

Health has been the PP’s top priority, with Mazón criticized for Botànic’s management which Democrats called a disastrous administration and a collapse in Primary Care. The new government plans to reverse this course by creating a General Directorate of Primary Health Care and legally protecting the public health budget with 30% of total resources.

Among other measures, the health project advocated by PP and Vox aimed to simplify language requirements for public health system staff, increase staffing of family physicians, pediatricians, nurses, and other professionals in Primary Care Centers, and guarantee maximum waiting times for diagnostic and surgical tests. If deadlines exceed fifty days, tests would be completed by a dedicated management service.

INVERSIONS

Denia and Elche-Vinalopó

One notable aspect of the new government’s agenda is reconsidering some health-related reversals. The fate of Denia and Elche-Vinalopó’s health management, previously aligned with Botànic, remains uncertain. Mazón has signaled that private-sector health management reversals may be paused, though a final decision has yet to be announced. Critics on the left suggest slowdowns will be part of any reevaluation.

Observers also expect an audit of the Valencia health system to map its current state. The audit’s findings will guide Botànic’s choices on any cancelled plans or future actions. Given the complexity, decisions could require tender processes if hospital procedures return to private management and must meet specific staffing and service requirements.

In parallel, there is expectancy around how quickly the health system can adapt to new realities. An audit-driven approach could set the stage for future reforms, ensuring transparency while addressing potential personnel and procedural changes in health services.

MULTILINGUALITY

Freedom of education choice

With Vox taking charge of Agriculture, Culture, and Justice, PP will lead Education. A campaign pledge promised families freedom to choose their child’s school, ideology, and language. Mazón’s first moves included dissolving the Office of Language Rights, a Botànic-era body known as the “Language Police Office.”

The future Generalitat head aims to dismantle what he calls a large cadre of language advisers, restore the number of education inspectors, end the Valencia process, and remove ideological influence from the system. Vox’s platform pledges to safeguard educational and linguistic freedom and ensure teaching quality without ideological meddling, while removing activists and language counselors from classrooms.

THE PLAN CONTINUES to focus on reducing bureaucracy and streamlining administration for citizens and businesses alike, with explicit aims to minimize red tape that slows daily life.

MOBILITY

A new model is needed

Mazón envisions a refreshed mobility framework. A centerpiece is a tram line through Elche within four years, a project estimated at around 200 million euros, financed by the regional government, connecting Carrús to Torrellano. Beyond Elche, the program also aims to expand fast, frequent public transport, including metro and tram networks across towns and cities.

National priorities include completing the Mediterranean Corridor, advancing the Valencia Community Suburban Plan, and linking the AVE across the three provincial capitals. Additional plans include improving road connections to beaches and linking the Luceros station with the Renfe network in Alicante city.

RENEWABLE

Another shock plan

A rapid energy plan is also on the table to accelerate renewable energy deployment in Valencia. Mazón announced in March that in the first half of the new term, authorizations for renewable energy projects would restart without ideological roadblocks and with pragmatic thinking. The concerns highlighted include investment losses and thousands of jobs at stake, particularly in solar energy, as delays have stalled progress.

Differences on renewables between Botànic and PP have been longstanding. The end-of-year pledge to push stalled projects to the Ombudsman and the General Inspection Board reflects ongoing tensions over how energy projects are processed and funded.

ECOLOGICAL TRANSITION

An area reserved for PP

While Vox takes charge of the Agriculture portfolio, the ecological transition strategy is retained by PP, with climate policy and renewable strategies as core focus areas. Among the issues, the Tajo-Segura water transfer remains a political flashpoint. The party has filed a complaint against the central government over what it describes as hindering sustainability in the Alicante region.

As with gender violence, Vox’s stance on climate issues will be scrutinized. Notably, the initial fifty-item agenda from PP and Vox contains no explicit mention of climate change or responsible consumption, aligning with Vox’s known conservative stance on environmental policy.

REGIONAL FINANCE

Historical claim

Regional financing remains a pivotal issue, with calls for a fair model that accounts for population and autonomy GDP. Mazón challenges the leadership of Ximo Puig and Pedro Sánchez, signaling that the time is ripe for Valencia to push for a more equitable distribution. The context includes waiting for the next general elections on July 23, which could reshape regional dynamics.

Critics argued that Valencia was historically underfunded, receiving 2,247 euros per capita, significantly below the autonomy average. Mazón is expected to push for a fairer distribution to strengthen the region’s financial footing and autonomy within the national framework.