Llorca shakes up the Valencian government and will take over language policy

ValenciaThe new president of the Valencian Generalitat, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, has shaken up the Valencian government, but has respected the foundations laid by Carlos Mazón, whose right-hand man he was in the Valencian Parliament (Les Corts) and the People's Party (PP). The result is a more profound reshuffle than it initially appears, but in which eight ministers remain and three new ones join. One of those who has kept their position is the first vice president, Susana Camarero, who gains the responsibilities for Housing and Employment, retains those for Youth and Equality, and relinquishes those for Social Services, as well as the role of spokesperson. Conversely, one of those affected by the reshuffle is Mazón's personal friend and former Minister of Education, Culture, Universities, and Employment, José Antonio Rovira, who leaves this key portfolio and will assume the Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Public Administration, previously held by the independent and former Ciudadanos leader, Ruth Merino. The new Minister of Education, Culture, and Universities will be María del Carmen Ortí Ferre. She is a career civil servant in the Generalitat's Education Inspection Corps, holds a diploma in Educational Sciences from the University of Valencia, and a degree in Psychopedagogy from the Open University of Catalonia. She currently heads the Popular University of the Valencia City Council. Previously, she served as Deputy Director General of Educational Planning and Private and Subsidized Schools and as Director of the Teacher Training Center in Torrent.

The role of the AVL

One of the key changes introduced by the new head of the Council is that the Presidency Department will assume responsibility for Language Policy. This will allow Pérez Lorca to oversee a sensitive matter such as Valencian. Despite appearances, the politician from Finestrat does not want to make changes to the educational policy implemented by Mazón, but he does intend to make it less controversial, especially regarding language. In a conversation with journalists after the announcement, he emphasized his belief in the Valencian Language Academy, but stated that it should not perform language promotion functions, but rather operate solely as a regulatory body. He also explained that he is a staunch defender of the existing law that the PP and Vox parties call the "educational freedom" law, as he emphasized in his inaugural address. The law is based on the voluntary use of Valencian as the primary language of instruction, and to a lesser extent, Spanish.

Communication policy has also undergone a profound overhaul. The president has announced the creation of the second vice-presidency and Ministry of the Presidency, which will be headed by the current Director General of Strategic Projects, José Díez Climent, who will also assume the role of Secretary of the Consell (Valencian Government). In addition, Henar Molinero will be the new Regional Secretary of the Presidency. She is a former high-ranking official under Francisco Camps, whom she accompanied during the trial in the "suits case." The same is true for Jacobo Navarro, the new Regional Secretary of Analysis, Studies, and Public Policy, and a former advisor and former Director General of Analysis, Studies, and Public Policy under the former president. Furthermore, the current president of À Punt, Vicente Ordaz, will leave his post to assume the Regional Secretary of Communication. This is a noteworthy appointment, given that it stems from a recently initiated renewal project for the broadcaster. Pérez Llorca took the opportunity to explain that the replacement could be used to allow opposition groups to rejoin the board of directors of the public company, an option that the PSPV and Compromís parties have rejected until now because they do not want to "whitewash the manipulation and drift" of the network. One of the most important decisions of the new president has been the appointment of the spokesperson for the Consell, a role that will be assumed by the Minister of Agriculture, Water, Livestock and Fisheries, Miguel Barrachina, with whom Pérez Llorca worked when he was spokesperson in the Parliament and Barrachina was deputy spokesperson. This is a hardline figure who will be able to continue Camarero's policy of not accepting any criticism and, on the contrary, constantly confronting the Spanish government. The move mirrors the approach taken in the Valencian Parliament, where the president appointed Nando Pastor, also a very conservative and controversial figure, as spokesperson.

As expected, the DANA storm has also been a major factor in the reshuffle. The regional government announced that Pérez Llorca will request a meeting with Spanish President Pedro Sánchez and the creation of the joint commission between the central government and the Valencian regional government, a request that was denied to Carlos Mazón. Also noteworthy is the creation of a commissioner for DANA recovery efforts, a position to be held by Raúl Mérida, the current regional secretary for the Environment. Regarding the third new portfolio, the Ministry of Social Services, Family, and Childhood will be headed by Elena Albalat Aguilella, the current regional secretary for the Social and Healthcare System. Albalat holds a degree in advertising and public relations from Jaume I University and a master's degree in New Trends and Innovation Processes in Communication, specializing in Strategic Communication Management and Intangible Asset Management. She has held various positions of responsibility in the Onda City Council and the Castellón Provincial Council.