The Language Academy and the promotion of Valencian, the first two major victims of the new PP-Vox pact

ValenciaA 25% reduction in funding for the Valencian Academy of Language (AVL), which has dropped from €3.9 million to €2.9 million, and a 10.05% reduction in funding for the promotion of Valencian, which will be allocated €17.5 million instead of €19.5 million. These are the first major casualties of the PP-Vox preliminary budget agreement for 2025, which the Consell approved this Thursday and which will now begin its parliamentary process. These are two of the far-right party's main demands, but they will not be the only ones included in its accounts. This was confirmed by the Minister of Finance, Ruth Merino, who explained that thanks to the agreement announced Monday between the two parties, there is "a framework for agreement" and that "negotiations have just begun."

Merino's press conference, at which the budget was presented, was dominated by a flurry of figures between the Popular Party and Vox. While the Minister of Finance was appearing, the extremists rushed to distribute a press release outlining the measures they had allegedly managed to introduce. Among them, a 30% reduction in subsidies to unions stands out, which the minister has denied.

Where the PP and Vox appear to be completely in tune is in promoting anti-Catalanism. Thus, the agreement with the Royal Academy of Valencian Culture has been reduced from €15,000 to €50,000. It is the same amount that Lo Rat Penat will receive, as it will this 2024. For the ultras, the attack on Valencian reflected in the accounts is insufficient, and Vox hopes that during the parliamentary processing of the budget, the funding for the AVL will be cut by a further 25% and the cut to the promotion of Valencian will be increased to Valencian.

Another of Vox's demands that has already been met is the reduction of cooperation funds: everything will increase from 73 million to 98 million, and will be linked to helping people affected by the DANA, a circumstance that distorts an amount supposedly intended to fight poverty and injustice.

As in 2024, policies for the ecological transition have also suffered the cuts from the PP and Vox, and the budget eliminates the 2024 item allocated to the climate emergency and reduces support for the ecological transition by 500,000 euros. Furthermore, Vox hopes that the approval of the accompanying law for the accounts will include the elimination of various fees related to environmental protection.

Regarding democratic memory, its funding is also being reduced, with subsidies for the recovery of human remains and the vindication of democratic memory dropping from 1.78 million to 1.1 million. The allocation for aid to city councils to open graves and carry out exhumations also falls by €100,000, from €300,000 to €200,000. The same is happening with the old line for associations promoting and disseminating Valencian historical and democratic memory. It goes from €150,000 to €100,000. À Punt has been more fortunate, escaping the cut and increasing its allocation by 2.42%, to €75 million.

In terms of overall figures, the 2025 budget amounts to €32.291 billion, representing a growth of €2.559 billion (+8.6%). The accounts include a €2.364 billion allocation for DANA works thanks to an extraordinary loan authorized by the State. Without the DANA allocation, the budget would increase by around 0.7%. Within the extraordinary budget for the catastrophe of October 29, the largest investment will be allocated to the economic and social recovery plan, with €600 million. Regarding debt, it is expected to approach €60 billion, 80% of which the Consell attributes to regional underfunding.

Merino: "There are no concessions, PP and Vox think the same."

In response to questions from the media, Ruth Merino denied that the PP had "embraced" Vox's position or made "concessions." On the contrary, she argued that both parties have implemented measures on which they share the same views, such as reducing policies that promote the use of Valencian. To demonstrate this harmony, she recalled the investiture pact signed by both parties in July 2023 and the budget agreement approved last year.

Regarding the cuts to the Valencian Academy of Language, Merino argued that the reduction in its funding was carried out after evaluating the actual execution of its previous budgets, a statement she did not accompany with any figures. Upon hearing the news, the president of the AVL, Verònica Cantó, expressed "surprise" at the cut and announced that it will affect Chapter 1 of civil servant personnel and the activities it carries out to promote the use of Catalan.