Residents of the Valencian Community still remember the disaster that struck just over a year ago. The powerful natural forces claimed hundreds of lives, leaving thousands of families without shelter. In his New Year’s address, President Juanfran Pérez Llorca emphasized that such a tragedy must never happen again. He stressed that only joint efforts at all levels of government can protect people from future disasters.
Speaking from the town of Utiel, which was severely affected by the October 2024 floods, the regional leader recalled the victims of the tragedy. He offered condolences to the families of those who died and promised that recovery efforts would continue until life fully returns to normal. He noted that many have already managed to get back to their regular routines, but much work remains ahead.
Commitment to cooperation
Pérez Llorca specifically stated that he is ready to engage in dialogue with any government officials, regardless of their political views. He called for genuine collaboration to ensure residents’ safety. In his view, this is the only way to finally complete the work to reinforce riverbeds and ravines.
In his speech, the president did not directly mention the central government, but made it clear: solving the region’s problems requires support from all institutions. He emphasized that safety and disaster prevention must take precedence over political disagreements.
Recovery and support
The head of Valencia recalled that recovery from last year’s tragedy is well underway. He assured that authorities continue to support those affected, and many have already returned to normal life. Peres Llorca promised that no family would be left without attention.
In his address, he also remembered the four women who were killed by their partners in the region over the past year. The president emphasized the importance of stability and peaceful coexistence and expressed his support for the victims’ families.
Economy and Taxes
Peres Llorca noted that the political stability achieved through an agreement with the Vox party made it possible to implement a number of key initiatives. These include lowering the tax burden, reducing bureaucracy, and supporting traditional economic sectors. According to him, these measures are already bearing fruit: employment in the region is growing, and the number of people working is approaching 2.5 million.
The president opposed the introduction of a tourist tax and expressed support for local farmers, fishermen, and livestock breeders. He noted that new laws need to reflect the real needs of residents rather than being disconnected from daily life.
Education and Housing Issues
In his speech, Peres Llorca also touched on the topic of education. He emphasized parents’ right to decide how to raise and educate their children. The president also reminded of the need to reform the system of financing autonomies and to address the problem of water shortages for agriculture.
The regional leader placed special emphasis on housing issues. He called for joint efforts to implement the Plan Vive program, which provides for the construction of thousands of new apartments. In his view, the government should reduce the property purchase tax to make housing more affordable for residents.
