Who's who in Vox in the Valencian Community

ValenciaDay after day, Vox continues to gain prominence in the Valencian Community. At the start of the legislative term, they managed to place former bullfighter Vicente Barrera as first vice president and promoted a political agenda that marginalizes the Valencian language, criminalizes migration, and denies climate change and gender violence. After their departure from the regional government in July of last year and the devastating storms of October, they took advantage of Carlos Mazón's weakened position to negotiate a budget that further advances their far-right agenda. Now, with the departure of the head of the regional government, they aim to extract a much higher price for their votes. To this end, they are counting on the threat of elections that the People's Party fears. Let's take a look, then, at the main leaders of this rising party.

Vicente Barrera

The former vice president of the Valencian government is back in the political spotlight after having to leave the regional government over a year ago following the split imposed by party leader Santiago Abascal on the regional governments due to their refusal to share responsibility for the care of unaccompanied migrant children among the territories. This was a decision the former bullfighter did not agree with. His return has demonstrated his influence within the party, as he has been appointed provincial president of Vox in the Valencia region. He replaces Ignacio Gil Lázaro, a long-time member of the Valencian right, who has served in Congress. The party has framed this change as a simple "generational" shift.

Barrera's consolidation of power culminates an interest in politics that the former bullfighter first displayed in 2008 when he approached the People's Party (PP), expanded two years later when he approached Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD), and reached its peak four years after that when he joined Vox. Since then, she has become one of Abascal's key figures in the Valencian Community. She also holds a prominent position nationally, thanks to her role as a member of the national executive committee. Given her public profile, it wouldn't be surprising if the party used her as a leading figure in the elections. In fact, there's a possibility she could join the municipal group in the Valencia City Council to gain visibility and, ultimately, head the party's list of candidates for the city council in 2027. Barrera was number 7 on the list of municipal candidates when the party won four seats. For this to happen, one of the current councilors would need to resign, and the two alternates ahead of him would have to decline the position. If this scenario proves too complex, the other option is for her to become the party's candidate for the presidency of the Generalitat (Valencian regional government).

Llanos Massó

With as much influence as Barrera is Llanos Massó, the current president of the Valencian Parliament (Les Corts) and provincial president of Vox in the Castellón district. Like the former bullfighter, she is also a member of the national executive committee. With degrees in physics, religious studies, and hearing aids, she represents the most conservative wing of the party. She accuses gender ideology of using abortion "as just another form of contraception" and is in favor of single-sex education. She has also accused public education of being an "instrument of separatism and feminism." Similarly, she demanded the presence of the Spanish flag in schools and the implementation of what she called "parental consent" (so that parents can prevent their children from receiving information about sexual diversity), and criticized the "excessive legal protection of women's lives."

Ignacio Gil Lázaro

He is a veteran of the Valencian far-right and had a long career as a leading figure in the Popular Alliance and the People's Party (PP). His entry into politics was forged thanks to the popularity he gained on the TVE program. one two threeTo justify his departure, he cited the supposed "drift" of the People's Party and, as a decisive factor, mentioned former Justice Minister Rafael Catalá's criticism of the acquittal of the La Manada gang rape suspects. Gil Lázaro's break, however, came just as the Valencian politician was beginning to be relegated on the People's Party's electoral lists.

Other names

Other important figures in Vox include former candidate for the Generalitat, Carlos Flores, now a member of Congress. With a past in the Francoist Fuerza Nueva, he was convicted of psychological violence against his former partner. Highly controversial and active on social media, his organizational power is less than that of the others. The list is completed by José Luis Aguirre, former Minister of Agriculture under Mazón, recently appointed provincial vice president of Vox in the Valencia region; the spokesperson in the Valencian Parliament, José María Llanos; and the also controversial member of parliament and city councilor in Burriana, Jesús Albiol, who spearheaded the persecution of the Valencian language in the town.