PP and Vox finalize the pact in the Valencian Community

Valencia / BarcelonaThe People's Party (PP) and Vox are finalizing the details to seal the agreement that should allow Juanfran Pérez Llorca to be invested as the new president of the Valencian Generalitat. This was explained to ARA by sources present at the negotiations, who detailed that both parties are working towards announcing the pact in the coming days and holding the investiture session next week. For the talks to be successful, some loose ends remain. These are the "final" approvals for many points already agreed upon. In this regard, it should be noted that, in the case of the PP, everything must be vetted by the national leadership of Alberto Núñez Feijóo. As for Vox, its executive committee is already participating directly in the negotiations through its secretary general, Ignacio Garriga, and his right-hand woman, Montserrat Lluis. According to sources from the far-right party, the "positive attitude" shown by the PP has been maintained throughout the talks, to the point that they "have accepted everything" they asked for.

Less transparent regarding the content, but equally optimistic about the outcome, other sources within the Valencian PP consulted by ARA have stated that the negotiations "are going well" and that an agreement is "very feasible." The timeline is another point of contention between the two parties, as Vox claims the pact could be finalized "before Sunday," allowing the investiture session to take place between Monday, November 24, and Tuesday, November 25 – the debate lasts two days – but the date is not yet set. PP sources, on the other hand, place the vote between November 27 and 28. To clear up any doubts, we will only have to wait until this Thursday, when the governing board of the Valencian Parliament (Les Corts), which is responsible for setting the date for the plenary session, meets.

Precisely to meet the deadline, the Popular Party officially registered Juanfran Pérez Llorca's candidacy to lead the Valencian Government this Wednesday. They did so on the last possible day to avoid the legislature ending in early elections. In subsequent press conferences, both parties outlined their points of agreement, but also their differences. Regarding areas of agreement, they concurred that there is "great cordiality" and "good rapport" in the talks. Among the points of disagreement, the most notable is that the conservatives stated they would be willing to go to the vote without any document formalizing the agreement, while the party led by Santiago Abascal insists on sealing the pact beforehand. "I'm not worried about having a document before the vote [...], it's neither necessary nor vital," Pérez Llorca has said, in a statement that leaves it unclear whether it expresses a conviction, a negotiating strategy, or an inconsequential message for the media.

As usual, the most cryptic has been the parliamentary spokesperson for Vox, José María Llanos, who explained that they will not demand a "notarized document," but that their desire is to reach an agreement before the investiture session. According to the far-right politician, both parties are "negotiating," there is still no "final" agreement, but there is a willingness to reach "the best possible agreement."

Against the immigrant population and "climate terrorism"

One of the points both parties are keeping most secret is the content of their talks. However, Vox has explained that the agreement must include measures that penalize immigrants. This includes proposals such as vetoing the distribution of care for unaccompanied foreign minors among the autonomous communities and prioritizing Spanish citizens in receiving social assistance—a point this newspaper has already covered. The far-right party is also demanding measures against what it calls the "climate terrorism of the Green Deal and the 2030 Agenda," a commitment to a minimal tax policy with significant cuts, and the consolidation of measures against the Valencian language. Furthermore, and linked to last year's devastating floods, it is demanding that the People's Party (PP) invest in infrastructure projects such as dams and levees on rivers and streams, while simultaneously denying the existence of climate change and eliminating policies to mitigate or prevent it, including in agriculture. Throughout the negotiations, the PP's determination to avoid elections at all costs has been evident, while Vox has sought to send "a message" to the president of Extremadura, María Guardiola, and to Feijóo himself, regarding its impact on the government program.

Support from María José Catalá

In the realm of symbolism, a noteworthy gesture took place this Wednesday: before attending the Valencian Parliament, Juanfran Pérez Llorca visited Valencia City Hall to demonstrate that he has the support of the mayor of Valencia, María José Catalá, Feijóo's preferred candidate to lead the Valencian PP. The conservative leader is determined not to shift her focus from municipal to regional politics. Catalá stated that she was the first to sign Pérez Llorca's candidacy—a requirement for all members of the party in the Valencian Parliament—and defended her colleague as the PP's "clear choice." "I'm leaving here knowing I have the support and affection of the mayor," said the PP candidate for president of the Generalitat, who is already looking beyond the 2027 regional elections, when the race for the presidency will begin, potentially with a contest between Pérez Llor, from Valencia.