In a transfer that has despatched shockwaves by means of Valencia and the Partido Popular, Carlos Mazón introduced on Monday morning that he’s resigning as president of the Valencian Generalitat. The determination, sudden but long-anticipated, follows a weekend of intense negotiations with the nationwide PP management, together with get together president Alberto Núñez Feijóo.
Mazón, citing a lack of “power” to proceed in workplace, appealed to the parliamentary majority within the Valencian Parliament (Les Corts) to decide on a brand new chief able to steering the area by means of ongoing restoration efforts and political uncertainty. “The time has come for another person to drive the restoration effort,” he mentioned, urging a “accountable” election of his successor.
Despite the announcement, a number of key questions stay unanswered, together with whether or not Mazón will relinquish his parliamentary seat, which is able to take away his immunity from prosecution, and who will succeed him as head of the Valencian authorities.
During his assertion, Mazón revealed that he had spoken with King Felipe VI, thanking him for his assist, and highlighted ongoing reconstruction efforts in areas devastated by final yr’s DANA storm.
Storms, Criticism, and Controversy
The announcement comes amid lingering fallout from final yr’s DANA storm, which devastated the province of Valencia. Mazón took delight within the area’s reconstruction work however didn’t draw back from criticism of the nationwide authorities. He accused Pedro Sánchez’s administration of abandoning Valencia for “political causes,” forcing the regional authorities to behave alone in rebuilding properties, roads, and communities.
Yet Mazón’s tenure was not with out controversy. The president admitted that he had erred in attending a lunch at El Ventorro in the course of the peak of the catastrophe. “Had I identified the magnitude of the tragedy, I might have cancelled it instantly,” he mentioned. The incident sparked a wave of criticism from opposition events, which Mazón dismissed as “self-serving,” whereas acknowledging the victims’ proper to specific their frustration.
Succession Battle Heats Up
With Mazón stepping apart, Valencia’s political panorama is coming into uncharted waters. Juanfran Pérez Llorca, secretary common of the PPCV and Mazón’s shut confidant, emerges because the frontrunner to take the reins. Seen as a candidate of continuity and stability, his rise might assist the get together preserve cohesion and reassure voters.
Other potential successors embrace Valencia mayor María José Catalá, although fears of dropping the capital metropolis make her bid unsure, and Vicent Mompó, president of the Valencia Provincial Council, whose lack of a parliamentary seat complicates an easy transition.
Vox now holds the facility to find out the subsequent step. By supporting a candidate, the far-right get together might allow a easy succession. Otherwise, the parliamentary course of might falter, forcing early regional elections, doubtless scheduled for May 2026.
Valencia at a Crossroads
Mazón’s resignation marks a turning level for the Valencian Community. The subsequent president faces the twin problem of finishing post-storm restoration whereas navigating a politically fragmented panorama. With public scrutiny excessive and political stakes larger, the area enters a interval of uncertainty that would reshape its political future.
For now, Mazón stays in an appearing function, however the clock is ticking. Five months is the authorized restrict earlier than both a brand new president is confirmed or voters are referred to as again to the polls—a deadline that provides urgency to the unfolding drama.
Valencia, as soon as identified for its calm coastal allure, now finds itself on the heart of a political storm, with the subsequent chapter in its management poised to redefine the area’s trajectory.
