Camps submits his candidacy to be the PP candidate for the Valencian Generalitat

BarcelonaFormer Valencian president Francisco Camps took another step in the internal power struggle within the People's Party (PP) on Thursday, announcing his candidacy for the presidency of the Valencian Generalitat, complete with a proposed government program. In statements to the media, he clearly stated his intention not only to run in the regional congress for the presidency of the Valencian PP, but also to become president of the Generalitat, succeeding current president Juanfran Pérez Llorca. "Will they make it easy for me? No. Will they try to prevent this? Yes. But I will try," he asserted emphatically. This scenario directly clashes with the wishes of the national leadership under Alberto Núñez Feijóo—who has consistently supported the mayor of Valencia, María José Catalá—as well as with Pérez Llorca himself—and his potential desire to remain in office—and the president of the Valencia Provincial Council, Vicent Mompó—who has been championed by the provincial leaders of the Valencian PP. "Today, after the entire process has concluded, I say it openly and without hesitation: I want a president elected by the party members, by the voters, and by an absolute majority of the PP's members of parliament. That is my objective," he stated, speaking of himself.

Just before an event tonight with his supporters, Camps was emphatic: "I am opening the door to being the candidate for president of the Generalitat for the People's Party of the Valencian Community. I have a moral obligation to do so," he affirmed. In fact, he went so far as to declare his commitment to "winning by an absolute majority." He also stated that the future of the Valencian PP must be "planned" now and that he has "a moral obligation to do so." According to him, he has already outlined his potential government: "It's a government program starting in 2027. It's not Francisco Camps's program, because more than 200 people participated. It has 21 points that cover and address all the essential issues: education, healthcare, infrastructure, water, and financing." He believes these points "made PP governments powerful and effective leaders."

The former Valencian president, acquitted in numerous corruption cases—which have plagued his associates, some of whom have been convicted—admitted that he has not spoken with Pérez Llorca. However, he did have the opportunity to reminisce about the old days of large PP majorities in the Valencian Community: "When people tell me they were with me, I have to say that they were all with me. This gentleman (Pérez Llorca) was mayor of Finestrat with an absolute majority when I was president, as was the mayor of Valencia," he concluded. Camps is one more element of a battle for the candidacy in the Valencian electionsAlthough the name will be chosen by the state leadership, as stipulated in the statutes, a strong confrontation is also anticipated for the presidency of the Valencian PP. For this reason, no election has yet been called, despite the announced resignation of Carlos Mazón from his party post in the region, following his negligent handling of the DANA storm. For the time being, leaders such as the PP's general secretary, Miguel Tellado, have repeatedly ruled out Camps' return, stating that "these debates distance us from the public."