Tensions are rising in Spain between the central government and the regions. Journalist and major publication correspondent in Valencia, Salvador Enguix, addresses in his new book a question that has lingered for some time: why do the country’s peripheral areas increasingly end up in the shadows, while Madrid continues to strengthen its hegemony? According to him, the capital doesn’t just accumulate political and economic power—it virtually absorbs all resources, leaving only scraps for the autonomous regions. This situation, the author says, not only impoverishes the regions but also undermines the stability of the entire country.
Enguix argues that if Spain genuinely wants to preserve its unity and develop, it must abandon the old model where all roads lead to Madrid. He insists on transitioning to a federal system, where power and decision-making are shared among different centers instead of being concentrated in a single one. Only in this way, the journalist believes, can the regions have the opportunity to pursue their own initiatives and stop being hostages of centralized policies.
Lost Opportunities
The author of the book does not hide his disappointment: although the 1978 Constitution (Constitución de 1978) was originally designed with a federalist approach, in practice things have taken a different turn. In recent years, he notes, there has been a clear tendency toward unacceptable centralization. Madrid is becoming not just an administrative center, but a true ‘black box’ where all threads of governance, finances, and even information flows are concentrated.
This problem is felt especially acutely in the Comunitat Valenciana. Here, as Enguix points out, local authorities are increasingly unable to implement independent policies due to insufficient funding. Without fair allocation of resources, regions lose not only economic independence but also political influence. As a result, according to the journalist, the autonomous regions become mere bystanders rather than actual participants in the state process.
Battle for justice
The book examines in detail why attempts to reach a new mechanism for financing the autonomous regions are constantly stalling. The reason is the disunity among the regions themselves and the lack of a single position. Each fights for its own interests, while major parties exploit the situation for their own purposes without offering real solutions. Enguix sharply criticizes politicians who prefer to remain silent or stick to vague statements instead of standing up for the rights of their constituents.
The journalist emphasizes that unless the approach changes, regions like Valencia risk remaining under central control forever. He calls for active participation not only from politicians, but also from the business community and civil society. In his view, only joint pressure can move the situation forward and achieve a fair distribution of resources.
Federalism as a Solution
As a solution, Enguix proposes a return to the ideas enshrined in the Constitution and the development of federalist mechanisms. These include the creation of a full-fledged Senate that would truly represent the interests of the regions and have real powers, rather than being a mere formality. He also insists on the need for regular meetings between regional leaders and the central government to jointly discuss and address key issues.
However, the author himself admits that for now, there is no political will for such changes. Those in power are in no hurry to share authority, and the regions continue to lose influence. In this situation, according to Enguix, silence becomes dangerous — without open dialogue and real progress, Spain risks facing an even deeper crisis of trust between the center and the regions.
