In a recent public stance, Consell’s leadership has emphasized a clear separation from the ideological framework promoted by the left. The controversy centers on the engagement of regional officials in a campaign tied to LGBTQ+ visibility. Vicente Barrera, who serves as first vice president and head of Culture and Sport, chose to distance himself from a campaign that the regional manager had introduced at Fitur and that was widely discussed over the weekend. The Valencian Community’s political scene saw other notable figures, including Carlos Mazón and Susana Camarero, weighing in as the topic of LGBTQ+ inclusion—an issue that drew strong reactions from Vox’s leadership in the Valencia regional government. The messaging from Barrera asserted a refusal to endorse what he described as an ideological framework associated with the left in a period marked by intense debate over gender policy and civil rights.
During a media encounter, Barrera, alongside the Justice minister, articulated a stance that reflected a broader concern about discrimination and tolerance within society. He framed the discourse as one of principled disagreement with the campaign, arguing that adopting a left-aligned ideological framework could lead to consequences that did not align with his interpretation of law and social norms. Elisa Núñez, who also holds a position within Vox and is part of the regional Justice portfolio, contributed to the framing of this message. The episode marked a notable point where Barrera publicly distanced himself from his PP colleagues, though Vox’s leadership insisted that there was no ongoing crisis within the coalition.
In explaining the political calculus behind his position, Barrera noted that the campaign had the formal backing of Equality, a department led by Consell’s second vice president. He argued that his stance would not have practical implications beyond public commentary. Susana Camarero stressed that the PP maintained its own autonomy, while acknowledging that Vox representatives in the regional administration had not taken part in the campaign themselves, and thus had chosen to air their opinions through public channels.
Declaration of intent
Vox’s leader propounded that the aim was to demonstrate a clear statement of intent and to register a public disagreement. He described the PP and Vox as partners who share a broad political project yet retain distinct identities and occasional differences. The discussion surrounding the Fitur campaign, which had also been highlighted in a press release after a festival weekend, had prompted a meeting on Tuesday. He indicated that he had not been fully informed about the campaign beforehand and suggested that future deliberations should precede any public display of differences. This, he argued, would ensure that disagreements could be handled through proper channels rather than through ad hoc public statements.
The campaign’s stated objective, articulated by Mazón and Camarero over the prior weekend, was to celebrate diversity in the Valencian Community and to promote a society that is inclusive and respectful toward all identities. Barrera, however, argued for avoiding what he termed a process of collectivization, insisting that messages should reach everyone rather than a targeted subset. He made clear that he would not participate in the campaign as an official representative, while also refraining from stating whether he had taken his concerns directly to the president. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that disclosures were in the public domain and thus subject to public scrutiny. The broader political discourse reflected a tension between party-led initiatives and regional governance, with stakeholders asserting different visions for how social inclusion should be pursued within the Valencian Community.