In the Valencian Community, youth policies are taking center stage with an emphasis on employment, education, housing, and health. The PSPV program for young people outlines concrete benefits aimed at reducing unemployment among recent graduates, supporting study abroad, and easing access to housing. Among the highlighted measures are continued free public transport through the end of the year and grants for university students contemplating studies in other autonomous regions, including a 2,700 euro scholarship for those who choose to study away from home.
Health remains a priority, with strengthened mental health services and reduced costs for dental and eye care. The Socialists emphasize that the objective is to offer young residents a clearer horizon, reducing talent drain from the Valencian Community and fostering long-term opportunity for the younger cohort.
The youth program was unveiled this Wednesday in two concurrent events, one in Valencia and the other in Alicante. In Valencia, the presentation featured the regional president and PSPV’s regional candidate, Ximo Puig. In Alicante, Yaissel Sánchez and Mario Villar described the proposals, illustrating the party’s approach to youth policy at the provincial level.
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The program acknowledges that unemployment and housing access are among the top concerns for young people, and it aims to address these issues from the outset. The plan includes targeted support tailored to the most affected groups and a willingness to tailor measures to the needs of students and workers alike.
Current statistics show a substantial youth population in the Valencian Community, with tens of thousands of young adults aged 16 to 35 and a sizable portion already in the workforce. The objective is to extend beyond current achievements by ensuring a job or education guarantee for those who have been unemployed for a year after finishing their studies, a group that includes thousands of young people who are close to entering the labor market. This will involve collaboration with employers, trade unions, social services, vocational education centers, and local companies to build a robust support network.
Within the same framework, the program introduces initiatives to support young entrepreneurs with a financing package that includes favorable guarantees and micro-loans, designed to empower startup ventures and new business ideas. A dedicated fund and streamlined access to capital are part of the strategy to foster entrepreneurship among youth.
In housing, two measures aim to improve access. First, a financing mechanism to cover entry costs for young people under 35 who sign leases. Second, in collaboration with city councils, a program to build thousands of rental homes specifically for the youth, helping to stabilize living conditions for young residents and reduce market pressures that hinder independence.
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Education holds a prominent place in the socialists’ agenda. The program revitalizes the Seneca initiative to provide 300 euros per month for nine months to university students studying in another region under a national exchange mechanism. An expansion of the Xarxa Llibres program to include both Bachillerato and Vocational Education is proposed, along with financing for free education and extracurricular activities for children from 0 to 18 years old.
In health, mental health services for young people are prioritized, with plans to establish 24 community response teams, eight day hospitals, and three crisis inpatient units. Affordability is addressed with deductions for dental and optical care, supporting families in maintaining essential health services.
Additionally, the extension of free public transport through the end of the year remains a key feature, with the plan to introduce new subsidy models starting January. Ximo Puig has cited Botànic as a model of governance oriented toward youth, pointing to incentives such as a 30% reduction in university fees, a record number of scholarships across autonomous communities, and significant funding to hire young professionals since 2018, including the established free transport benefit.
Looking ahead, the regional candidate argues for advancing the pact with a new phase of governance, urging continued youth participation in shaping policy. The socialists underline that keeping young people engaged is essential for a future-led, sustainable agenda. Yaissel Sánchez emphasizes that international experiences are not the sole path for young people to build a life project; the aim is to create opportunities and retain talent locally.
Campaign closure
Puig will conclude the campaign in Alicante with an address at 21:30 on Friday at the Alicante City Council Auditorium. The event will feature remarks from the regional president and other leaders, signaling a final push to secure broad support for the youth-focused agenda as the election period comes to a close.