Problems with reporting on government subsidies in the Valencian parliament directly affect the transparency of public spending and trust in political institutions. According to El Pais, auditors found that none of the parliamentary factions submitted their annual reports on the use of subsidies for 2024 within the required timeframe. This means that millions of euros allocated for party activities remained outside oversight and review.
Among all groups, Partido Popular (PP) had the largest amount to return—almost 280,000 euros for 2024. Vox was required to return 865 euros. However, the total amount that PP was ordered to reimburse reached 355,669 euros, but part of this sum was written off after objections were reviewed. The Mesa de Les Corts, which no longer included PSPV-PSOE representatives after Gabriela Bravo’s departure, made decisions that allowed 35,863 euros to be written off for PP, 3,500 euros for Compromís, and 2,640 euros for Ciudadanos. In 2025, PP had already returned 210,000 euros, but a significant portion of the funds remained unpaid.
Delays and violations
Auditors note that delays in submitting reports have become a systemic issue. PP submitted its annual report for 2024 only on January 30, 2026, nearly a year past the deadline. The Socialists and Compromís also filed late, presenting their documents in May and June 2025, respectively. Vox initially filed on time, but later submitted corrections several months after. According to El Pais, none of the parliamentary blocs managed to fully meet the deadlines for quarterly reports: PP, Compromís and Vox were late twice, while the Socialists were late three times. This hindered financial oversight and increased the risk of misuse of funds.
The report also points to contract irregularities and overdue payments exceeding €643,000. Furthermore, Les Corts lacks an up-to-date property appraisal register, complicating the monitoring of parliamentary assets. Auditors stress that these violations may erode trust in the subsidy allocation system and require immediate action.
Recommendations and consequences
According to El Pais, auditors suggested the Mesa de Les Corts revise subsidy monitoring rules to require groups to resubmit reports after feedback from financial oversight. They also recommended reinforcing internal controls so that all disputed expenses are justified during the initial objections process, not only when funds must be returned. In 2024, the total amount of subsidies allocated to parliamentary groups reached €3.6 million.
Scrutiny of the financial discipline of parties in Valencia has increased amid other high-profile regional decisions. For example, the recent appointment of a high-salaried secretary at Diputación de Valencia has raised questions about transparency in staffing decisions, as noted in the article on staff changes in Valencia’s government bodies. Such cases highlight the importance of budgetary oversight and transparent HR policies.
Context and similar cases
In recent years, Spain has seen repeated scandals involving the misuse of public subsidies by political parties. In 2023, several autonomous communities reported delays in financial reporting and the return of funds, which led to additional audits and stricter controls. In Catalonia and Madrid, there were also cases where parties returned large sums after being audited. These incidents highlight that transparency and accountability in the use of public subsidies remain pressing issues nationwide, requiring constant oversight by regulatory authorities.
