In a moment that combined judicial decision with the regional political calendar, the state’s Supreme Court rejected the precautionary suspension of transfer cuts demanded by the Generalitat. On the same day, Ximo Puig, chairman of the Consell and re-election candidate from the PSPV, moved to launch campaigning in a landscape already marked by water restrictions. Orihuela, often identified as the region’s water-supply hotspot, became the focal point of the discourse as Puig announced his plan to appeal the ruling and underscored the socialists’ commitment to defend water access for every resident. The moment was also used to spotlight Vega Baja as a concrete example of the progress claimed by the Edificant-era school construction program across the Valencian Community. — Citation: regional political press coverage.
Puig stood beside a slate of regional mayoral candidates, including Bárbara Soler of Torrevieja, Joaquín Hernández, the Orihuela mayor, Carolina Gracia, and the mayor of Dolores, among others. He framed the Supreme Court decision as a call to action: they would appeal, stand firm, and insist on precautionary measures. The socialists’ message was simple: water should be available to all, and they would defend that principle to the end. — Citation: party remarks and press notes.
With conviction, Puig asserted that reason and logic guide their approach, preferring dialogue as a primary instrument. He outlined a strategy that prioritizes desalination while leveraging a diversified mix of resources, including irrigation reuse and modernization. His aim was to guarantee water for the territory on a lasting basis. The broader plan, he explained, rests on practical collaboration and clear projections for future supply. — Citation: candid remarks from the event.
When asked about criticism from Carlos Mazón, president of the Provincial Assembly and regional PP candidate, Puig emphasized that every institution has a duty to participate, suggesting that some critiques may reflect heightened tension rather than factual disagreement. He also hinted that nerves might drive confusing explanations in the moment. — Citation: post-event comments.
In the same frame of reference, Puig promoted a reform of educational infrastructure across the Valencian Community through the Edificant Plan. He highlighted gains in Vega Baja over recent years, noting an investment tally that reached 154 million euros and the disappearance of five barracks. He pointed to a notable increase in teaching staff since 2015, claiming that about a thousand more teachers now serve the region. These steps, he argued, have contributed to rising educational quality and broader opportunities for local students. He also commented on political promises about tuition, noting that while some claim free education in certain proposals, the current regional program already provides universal access to education, with discussions about extending free education to younger ages in the future. — Citation: education policy summaries.
Transfer cut: what unites and separates the resources of the Council and the County Council
On other fronts, the Socialists’ Vega outlined a plan to address Baja’s connectivity challenges. He promised to commission a feasibility study for a potential tram line in the region, and he criticized what he characterized as excessive spending on publicity while advocating a pragmatic approach to major road work, including CV-95, with a concrete investment of thirty million euros. — Citation: campaign commitments.
Health was another pillar of the discourse. The Socialist candidate reiterated a commitment to a public, universal, and free health system, stressing a stance against privatization or any mandatory private participation. The Torrevieja Hospital served as a practical example: opened to the public, it has seen improvements in service and staffing, enhancing patient access to care. Citizens, he argued, would no longer be treated as customers, and the best possible healthcare would be within reach for all. — Citation: health policy statements.
Puig closed with a reflective note on Vega Baja’s transformation over the past eight years, citing a population that has grown with 20,000 more employed residents. He stressed that continued work through social dialogue and agreed actions would safeguard the right to work as a universal entitlement. The message was clear: stability, collaboration, and tangible investment in education, water, health, and infrastructure would define the next phase for the region. — Citation: concluding remarks.