In the Valencian Community, the political scene is once again in the spotlight: the new president, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, has decided not to rush budget negotiations for next year. Following his recent inauguration, he made it clear that he doesn’t see a need to urgently discuss financial matters with Vox, despite their key role in his election. According to Llorca, the current budget is still active, and many expenditures have yet to be implemented.
This approach came as a surprise to many observers, since Llorca previously had to make a series of concessions to Vox on migration and environmental policies to secure their support. Now, however, he is clearly trying to distance himself from the image of a politician fully dependent on the far right. As a result, budget talks have come to a standstill, and it remains unclear when they will resume.
Internal party disagreements
The situation is further complicated by the increasingly strained relationship between the Partido Popular (PP) and Vox at the national level. Amid the election campaign in Extremadura, Vox leader Santiago Abascal openly questioned the right of the PP candidate María Guardiola to lead the region without an absolute majority. In response, Guardiola accused Abascal of sexism, while PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo defended her, emphasizing the independence of his candidates.
Against this backdrop, the PP even supported the Socialists’ initiative to audit the finances of the Disenso foundation, which is linked to Vox—a move that drew a sharp response from the far right. All this has only heightened tensions between the two parties, who not long ago stood united at the regional level.
Cabinet reshuffle
In Valencia itself, changes also affected the lineup of the regional government. After Carlos Mazón stepped down as president and the finance minister was replaced, José Antonio Rovira, who previously oversaw education, was appointed as the new budget manager. Vox, for its part, has already warned that its support is not unconditional, stating it will closely monitor the commitments made when the coalition was formed.
While Llorca is focused on funding issues and recovery after devastating weather events, he is also negotiating a meeting with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The main goal is to achieve greater coordination between the central and regional governments and to secure additional resources for infrastructure restoration.
Challenges and expectations
At the same time, the new president faces distrust from several civic organizations representing victims of natural disasters. Some of them demand that Llorca insist on Mazón’s return to parliament before they agree to meet with him. Llorca himself emphasizes that he is open to dialogue but does not intend to let emotions guide his decisions.
There are also significant changes happening within the party. Following Mazón’s resignation as head of the PP’s regional branch, Llorca temporarily assumed leadership of the party. He now has to select a new secretary general, who will be responsible for organizational matters. This decision is expected before the end of the year, possibly after the elections in Extremadura.
Balancing interests
Although most members of the previous government have retained their positions, Llorca has made several changes in the leadership, strengthening the influence of his supporters. Notably, key posts have gone to individuals close to former president Francisco Camps and to the mayor of Valencia, María José Catalá. This has allowed Llorca to consolidate his position within the party and secure control over core policy directions.
Nevertheless, the question of future cooperation with Vox remains unresolved. For now, budget negotiations have been suspended, and the political climate in the region remains tense. In the coming weeks, much will depend on whether Llorca can find a balance between the interests of different factions within the party and the demands of his allies.
For reference, Juanfran Pérez Llorca is a politician from Finestrat who previously served as secretary general of the regional branch of the Partido Popular. After Carlos Mazón’s departure, he became not only the head of the Valencian Community government but also the party’s interim leader in the region. Llorca is known for his negotiation skills and his drive to find common ground among diverse political forces. His next steps will shape not only the future of the coalition with Vox, but also the stability of one of Spain’s key regions.
