The mayor of Valencia and head of the PP list for Congress in this constituency in the general elections of November 29, María José Catalá, has explained the "step" she has decided to take to lead her party's candidacy to the Lower House, emphasizing that in these elections "there is a lot at stake." At the same time, she has guaranteed, regarding the different roles she assumes: "When in doubt, Valencia will always come first."
The first mayor has made these statements to the media after inaugurating the institutional opening of the "IV Forum of Future Cities Levante-EMV." In her speech, she reiterated that the 29N represents a "decisive moment for Spain" and also "crucial." "We all have to row in the same direction, which is to ensure that Spain regains normality," she stated.
In this sense, she insisted that "there is a lot at stake and we saw it on Saturday in Barcelona --with the disturbances in Plaça Catalunya--, coexistence, security, tranquility, the institutions are at stake, the credibility of the political class is at stake. There is a lot at stake and that is what we are really gambling on November 29."
In light of this scenario, Catalá has maintained that she cannot "look the other way" and that it is her responsibility to assume her role. She pointed out that "I believe Valencia has to step forward, as a city it has always stepped forward for Spain, I believe I had to take this step and I think it is the decisive moment because, it is true, there is a lot at stake."
Furthermore, the mayor of Valencia has stated that the country "needs to change the president of the Government --Pedro Sánchez-- and the entire Government," and "to talk again about the economy, housing, mobility, projects, infrastructure" while stopping to talk "about jewels, about public money used for issues that certainly should never be, about corruption, about all these issues we have been discussing lately that do not help or contribute to a climate of normality."
When asked if she will be able to reconcile the position of mayor with that of deputy in Congress, Catalá responded that "the first thing" is "to change the Government of Spain" and that her goal is "to contribute as much as possible" for that to happen on 29N. "From there, the priority will always be Valencia," she reiterated.
"It is not the first time" she takes on multiple roles
In relation to the accumulation of functions, she has emphasized that "it is not the first time" that she has held more than one institutional responsibility. She recalled that she was already the mayor of Torrent (Valencia) and that at that time she was "number 2 on the Congress list already on one occasion." "I have some experience and I demonstrated my priorities back then and I will demonstrate them again when necessary," she has underscored.
When asked if she plans to leave her position as a deputy in Les Corts to keep the one in Congress, Catalá answered: "The idea is to win the elections." And, to the question of whether she would accept to be a minister in the event that Alberto Núñez Feijóo reached the presidency of the Government and proposed it to her, she insisted that "València will always come first."
"Very happy" with the "electoral ticket" alongside Camarero
On the other hand, when asked about the fact that the first vice president of the Consell, Susana Camarero, is finally heading the PP list for the Senate for Valencia —after having been mentioned in the betting for the position that Catalá has finally assumed— the mayor has assured that she is "very happy" to form an "electoral ticket" with the regional leader. "She is a great friend, a politician of stature and I think I couldn't be better accompanied, I feel like I'm in a great team," she has indicated.
In addition, she has highlighted that the candidacy for Congress includes the mayor of Utiel, Ricardo Gabaldón, with whom she has said she maintains an "extraordinary" relationship. "I think I couldn't be better accompanied," she has pointed out, expressing her satisfaction that "the voice of the citizens of all municipalities is represented."