The Association of Digital Media of the Valencian Community (AMDComVal) held another information breakfast in Valencia with the participation of the Ombudsman of PSPV-PSOE in Les Corts, José Muñoz. The meeting is part of the organization's strategy to consolidate spaces for direct dialogue between journalists and policymakers., with the presence of professionals from Alicante, Castellón and Valencia.
The meeting took place at the Casino of the Agriculture and brought together media partners in an open conversation that addressed both current events political as key issues for local journalism and territorial cohesion.
During the meeting, José Muñoz presented his views on the regional political situation, funding, reconstruction after the DANA storm, and territorial challenges. The statements were made within the framework of this journalistic forum organized by AMDComVal, which allowed the media to ask questions and contextualize the main debates in the Valencian Community.
Muñoz asserted that the current Valencian government lacks its own "project" and defended the need for a Valencian agenda with greater influence in Spain. "We are five million people... enough to have a political project that has any impact on Spain," he remarked.
Regional funding is at the center of part of the debate
One of the central points of the meeting was regional financing. Muñoz argued that the Valencian Government should sit down to negotiate the Spanish Government's proposal to reform the financing model and criticized the outright rejection by the... Party.
"The Spanish government has put forward a €3.700 billion change to the funding model, and the People's Party must sit down and negotiate," he stated. According to the Socialist spokesperson, the central government "will have to make improvements and modifications," but the Catalan government cannot refuse to discuss an amount that, he reminded everyone, far exceeds the €1.600 billion that the Catalan president himself had requested in a meeting with the Spanish Prime Minister.
Muñoz has linked this issue to the need to regain a strong Valencian position in Madrid. In his view, the Valencian Community should aspire to influence the national debate and not simply react to agendas set by other regions.
"Ximo Puig took up the banner of funding and spearheaded a reform of the funding system from the Valencian Community to influence the Spanish debate," he recalled. "That needs to be revived."
Self-government, identity and critique of the "Madrileñization"
The Socialist leader also warned of a "progressive Madridization" of Valencian politics and defended the need to strengthen Valencian institutions, self-government and identity.
Muñoz lamented what he considers a "hollowing out" of Valencian institutions and cited issues such as the defense of Valencian civil law, the celebration of October 9th, the role of Les Corts and the function of À Punt as a regional public service.
"The autonomous state is one of the best things that has happened, but we have to believe in it, implement our powers, and defend them," he stated. In his opinion, the Valencian Community must assert its "diverse and distinct" identity, but with "common principles" that allow for the construction of a shared political project.
Electoral impact of the DANA storm
In response to questions from journalists, Muñoz analyzed the electoral impact of the October 2024 DANA storm and the subsequent reconstruction efforts. The Socialist spokesperson considered that the management of the disaster would be an important factor in the affected municipalities, although he clarified that across the Valencian Community as a whole, the vote would be more influenced by future expectations.
"People tend to vote based on expectations," he explained. "In the affected areas, the DANA storm will certainly have a greater impact on the vote, that's logical. But in the rest of the country, I don't think so."
Muñoz has warned, however, that the affected areas could become "fertile ground for populism," both by far-right groups and by potential municipalist candidates who build their discourse on the discontent generated by the reconstruction.
"Populism is nothing more and nothing less than simple solutions to very complex problems," he stated. The Socialist spokesperson also questioned the Consell's claim that the reconstruction would be finished in June. "That's not true. If you visit the sites, you'll see that the reconstruction is far from over and there's still a lot of money waiting to be spent," he pointed out.
Alicante and Castellón, key territorial challenges
Muñoz dedicated a significant portion of his speech to the province of Alicante, which he described as one of the major unresolved issues in Valencian politics. According to the ombudsman, there is a "lack of engagement" on the part of the society Alicante towards the autonomous project that must be addressed from the perspective of investment, infrastructure and construction of a shared identity.
"Alicante is the unfinished business for the Valencian Community, not only from the point of view of infrastructure or investment, but also how it can be incorporated into a Valencian Community project," he stated.
Muñoz pointed out that, especially in certain southern districts, there is a strong sense of identity in Alicante, sometimes constructed "as a response to Valencia." He also noted that, in his opinion, the city of Alicante lacks a defined urban model.
"You may like Valencia more or less, but there was a vision for the city. In Alicante, there is no vision for the city," he stated.
The Socialist leader has argued that, once the most urgent phase of the DANA storm has passed, the Generalitat should refocus on Alicante as a "priority territory to structure the Valencian Community".
Regarding Castellón, Muñoz identified the future of the ceramics industry as one of the province's main economic challenges. The Socialist spokesperson warned that energy transition processes and the cost of gas directly affect a sector that is strategic for the region. employment and economy Castellón.
"Castellón has a very serious problem with the ceramics industry. These are sectors that are intensive in their use of gas, and with the parameters that Europe is setting, the industry could be severely affected," he pointed out.
Muñoz argued that the Spanish government, in line with the position of other countries like Italy, must work to ensure that the goals of the ecological transition do not cause "a disaster" for the ceramics industry. He also cited agriculture as another key sector that should be included on Castellón's agenda.
The Socialist spokesperson insisted that integrating Castellón into the Valencian project cannot be limited to symbolic or folkloric acts. "It's not just about going to the Magdalena festival and saying that the Romeria de les Canyes is wonderful. We need to analyze and properly diagnose the situation and truly believe in the project for the province of Castellón," he argued.
Electoral scenario and socialist leadership
Muñoz has positioned Diana Morant as the candidate of PSPV She addressed the Generalitat and defended the Socialist Party's efforts to present an alternative capable of winning the upcoming regional elections. "The Socialist Party will present a female candidate, Diana Morant, who will champion and have her own project for the Valencian Community," she stated.
The ombudsman has asserted that the Valencian Community will be one of the main political battlegrounds in the upcoming election cycle. "Valencia is going to be the mother of all battles," he stated, referring to the strategic importance of the next regional elections.
Muñoz believes there are real possibilities for political change in the Generalitat and has linked this situation to various factors, including the DANA storm, the situation of former president Carlos Mazón, the evolution of the Popular Party and the ability of the PSPV to put together an alternative.
Reflection on media, disinformation, and exemplary conduct
At the start of his speech, Muñoz also reflected on political polarization, disinformation, and the role of the media. The Socialist leader warned of the rise of populist forces and the emergence of "pseudo-media" outlets and "agitators" who, he asserted, contribute to the erosion of democratic quality.
“We live in a world where we have more information than ever before, and yet, paradoxically, we are more misinformed,” he stated. The Socialist spokesperson defended the need to revive political debates based on arguments, not personal attacks. As an example, he cited the debate on the regularization of immigrants and criticized the use of arguments that, he pointed out, do not reflect legal or electoral reality.
Muñoz also defended the importance of exemplary conduct in politics and acknowledged that corruption cases have a "devastating effect" on public trust. In this regard, he cited cases linked to both the PSOE and the People's Party, arguing that public officials must clearly condemn such behavior to avoid fueling the narrative that "they're all the same."
AMDComVal consolidates its line of meetings with territorial impact
With this informational breakfast, AMDComVal resumes its meetings with political and institutional representatives of the Valencian Community. The association is thus reinforcing its objective of creating spaces for direct dialogue between digital media outlets in Alicante, Castellón, and Valencia and key players in Valencian public life.
The meeting with José Muñoz is part of a line of work aimed at strengthening local journalism, promoting territorial debate and contributing to a more structured news agenda throughout the Valencian Community.
