The composition of the Valencia City Council government team could change in the coming weeks. The mayor of València, the popular María José Catalá, does not close the door on Vox councilors joining her executive in the future after the first hundred days of her mandate with agreements, but also evident and public disagreements between the two formations, that they have managed to understand each other to co-govern, with a certain harmony, the Generalitat Valenciana.
In fact, that stability enjoyed by the Valencian president, Carlos Mazón, who, yes, has had to go out to put out the occasional fire, is not enjoyed by the mayor of Valencia, who in each vote is at the mercy of the four councilors of the extreme right or the will of the opposition.
Today there is a plenary session in the Cap i Casal Town Hall and this complicated situation will be glimpsed again. For now, Catalá has shown willingness to approve some and other issues committed to committee such as the honors of former mayor Rita Barberá, the change of accent in Valencia or the unblocking of Benimaclet’s PAI.
Be that as it may, the mayor wanted to leave all scenarios open yesterday when she was asked about the possible incorporation of Vox to her government team. After highlighting that the municipal group led by Juanma Badenas continues to be its “preferred partner,” Catalá noted: “We are going to see how the teams integrate, how the teams work and how trust is strengthened, and we will see.”
Thus, he wanted to emphasize that, so far, both groups maintain “a magnificent collaboration”, because in his opinion their teams “are working very well.” For all this, the mayor believes that, with the passage of time, she is “building confidence.” “Let’s go and see,” she said.
It is the first time that the mayor of Valencia has spoken so openly about the possibility of welcoming Vox into her government team, who has always harshly criticized the fact that the PP leader did not count on them to be part of the executive of the city of Valencia. after the important agreements reached by the two parties in the Consell and in important towns such as Castellón de la Plana, Elx or Torrent.
In statements to Cadena Ser to evaluate these first 100 days of government, the municipal spokesperson for Vox regretted that nothing has changed with respect to the government of Joan Ribó and accused Catalá of not solving the problems of mobility, crime and dirt of the residents of València .
While the Vox officials in the Mazón Government have opted for a more discreet profile and for weeks in silence, Badenas does not hesitate to strain his relationship with Catalá and to make him see that it will be difficult to govern with him in front.
Not even the PP’s controversial decision to grant the four councilors of Abascal’s party exclusive dedication with a high salary has managed to lower the tone of the criticism from those who are supposed to be its preferred partners.
Precisely because of this distribution of salaries, the local PSPV announced yesterday that it will file a complaint with the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency to investigate the possible fraudulent use of public resources by the mayor, by granting the maximum salary to all Vox councilors. .
According to the socialist municipal spokesperson, Sandra Gómez, this salary only responds to the purpose of “guaranteeing an affirmative vote”, which is why she believes that the anti-fraud agency “must analyze whether Mrs. Catalá has given exclusive dedications to the four Vox councilors without any another reason other than to secure their vote because that is buying will.”