Llorca demands fair financing, water and investment on Valencia's regional day
Valencian president Juanfran Pérez Llorca used his first 9 d'Octubre speech to press for a fairer regional funding model, water for farmland and infrastructure investment from the central government, while the opposition split over the address.
A first 9 d'Octubre as president
Juanfran Pérez Llorca gave his first 9 d'Octubre speech as president of the Generalitat on Friday, at the institutional act for the Día de la Comunitat Valenciana held in the Palau de la Generalitat after the awarding of the region's top honours. It is also the last 9 d'Octubre of the legislature. The speech was delivered entirely in Valencian, before an audience that included ministers Arcadi España (Hacienda) and Diana Morant (Ciencia), both Valencians. El Mundo reported that last year's celebrations were cancelled after the dana, and that this year's act took place under a heavy police presence. Llorca said the Valencian people "does not need to shout, but it must be heard".
Financing, water and infrastructure
Llorca placed a fair regional financing model first among the Generalitat's demands. He told the audience that Valencians have long paid as much as anyone but received less than others.
We Valencians pay as much as anyone, but receive less than others. And this is not an opinion. It is an injustice. And injustices are not managed or negotiated. They are corrected.
El Mundo reported that for months the Generalitat has asked the ministry for an equalisation fund that would bring Valencian funding up to the national average, and that it has rejected a new financing model still awaited from Madrid. On water, Llorca said the farmland needed it now and that water belongs to whoever needs it.
Water is not of the right or of the left. It belongs to whoever needs it. And we need it now.
La Razón noted that one of the distinctions was awarded to the Tajo-Segura irrigators' union, and 20 minutos reported that Llorca also demanded water for the south of Alicante. He added demands for infrastructure claimed by businesses, more resources for municipalities and the investment needed to keep the economy growing. Llorca summed up the message in one line.
No pedimos privilegios. Pedimos igualdad.
Identity and the Jaume I anniversary
The act marked the 750th anniversary of the death of Jaume I, the founder of the Kingdom of Valencia, who entered the city of Valencia on 9 October 1238. Llorca called the heritage "diverse and plural" and said the Valencian identity has never needed to go against anyone to be itself. He also addressed the Senyera, the language and the traditions, which he said belong to everyone.
This people does not want to be more than anyone, but it does not accept being less than anyone.
El Mundo read his line of "valencianos sin complejos" as an implicit criticism of Catalan nationalism. Llorca also remembered the victims of the dana, which struck the province of Valencia almost two years ago, and said the victims "will always be in our memory" while reconstruction continues.
Reactions from the opposition
The speech drew divided reactions. PSPV-PSOE leader Diana Morant, who is also a minister, called it disappointing and accused Llorca of offering nothing new.
Faced with the real problems of Valencians, all he does is kick the ball out of play.
Compromís spokesman Joan Baldoví called the address "flat" and "empty", while Vox spokesman José María Llanos in the Cortes Valencianas called it "right on target".
Housing and the run-up to the vote
Llorca named housing, education, science, infrastructure, territorial cohesion and the sustainability of public services as areas that should not start from zero every four years. He framed them as policies that should transcend governments.
There are policies that should transcend governments.
Housing has become a central theme in the campaign for the general election on 29 November. Llorca said he would keep defending Valencian interests with serenity, determination and institutional rigour.
