On Wednesday, Madrid hosted the first official meeting between Juan Francisco Pérez Llorca, the new head of the Valencian government, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Pérez Llorca, who recently took office after difficult negotiations with the Vox party, arrived in the capital amid recent heavy rains that once again recalled the massive DANA disaster, which claimed 230 lives in the region. An investigation into the actions of the previous administration in this case is being conducted by Judge Nuria Ruiz Tobarra from Catarroja.
During the hour-long meeting, the parties discussed ways to restore the affected areas. As a result of the talks, it was decided to establish a special joint commission, which will begin work in January. The main goal is to develop specific measures for recovery and to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Disagreements and expectations
Despite the agreements reached, Pérez Llorca expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of the meeting. At a press conference, he stressed that creating the commission is only the first step and that real action is being delayed: 414 days have passed since the disaster. According to him, the region urgently needs the accelerated implementation of hydraulic projects, both for recovery and to prevent new disasters.
Last year, according to regional authorities, only 26% of the allocated €2.364 billion for reconstruction was actually used. The issue of building bridges and dams, previously raised by Vox leader Santiago Abascal, became one of the conditions for supporting Pérez Llorca in the elections. Although the head of government claims he did not sign any official agreements with the far right, the fact that negotiations and understandings took place between the parties is not denied.
Participation of municipalities
Minister for Territorial Policy Ángel Víctor Torres also addressed journalists after the meeting. He stated that the commission would begin work right after the New Year holidays, but emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability. According to him, these principles were not always upheld in the past.
The government insists that representatives from all 77 municipalities affected by DANA be included in the commission. Pérez Llorca agreed to this requirement. The initiative for the meeting came from the president of Valencia himself, who was elected on November 27. Minister Torres expressed hope that the new regional leader would correct the mistakes of the previous administration, recalling the recent resignation of Carlos Mazón, who, according to critics, failed to deal with the aftermath of the disaster.
Climate challenges
Unlike Pérez Llorca, Minister Torres emphasized the importance of fighting climate change to prevent similar disasters from happening again. This issue was also discussed at the meeting with the prime minister. Representatives from Pérez Llorca’s circle expressed their willingness to work in this direction, although the positions of Vox, which supports the Valencian government, differ from this approach.
Torres noted that in other regions where the People’s Party is in power, such as Extremadura and Aragón, leaders opted for early elections rather than making concessions to the far right. In Valencia, however, the political situation played out differently, making a compromise with Vox a necessary condition for forming the government.
The particularities of the situation in Valencia
Pérez Llorca stressed that the region is facing unique challenges due to DANA. He pointed out that Vox representatives took a constructive approach during negotiations. At the same time, Minister Torres reminded that the far-right’s positions contradict the need for climate reforms, which could complicate the commission’s future work.
Authorities on both sides agreed that only joint efforts and the involvement of all stakeholders would allow for the effective recovery of affected areas and help prevent further tragedies. The commission’s first session is scheduled for January, and much of the region’s future will depend on its work.
