He was a face with little media coverage but for years he has been a key man in the silent agreements of the PP in the Valencian Community. Popular Ombudsman in the Cortes, mayor of Finestrat and shadow negotiator in pacts with Vox, Juanfran Pérez Llorca (Finestrat, 1976) appears as the favorite to replace Carlos Mazón after his resignation as president. His technical and municipal profile He arouses praise even among the local opposition, but also concern among those who identify him as the “continuer” of the political project in the Generalitat.
“He is a person with pure knowledge of municipalism, grown in management from town politics”
Pérez Llorca has forged himself politically from the base. “He is a person with pure knowledge of municipalism, grown in management from town politics, local administration…, the administration closest to the citizen, and that's how he is, very close,” he summarizes. Javier Gutierrezregional deputy of Xixona of the PP who already coincided with the mayor of Finestrat in the Alicante Provincial Council. For Gutiérrez, if he finally assumes the Presidency of the Generalitat Valenciana, “he will be a great president.”
“It has closed a thousand negotiations for candidates and mayors in many municipalities and no one has found out”
His negotiating skills are another of the most repeated qualities among those who have worked with him. José Ramón González de Zárateregional deputy of the PP, describes Pérez Llorca as “a good negotiator. Calm, very calm. He is very close to his neighbors, he really cares about their problems.” According to him, “he has closed a thousand negotiations between candidates and mayors in many municipalities and no one has found out.” It also highlights its low profile and its roots: “It is also very traditional and Valencian-speaking, which is something that is good.”
“He is a convinced municipalist, he will understand the needs of the city councils, a requirement to be president”
The mayor of Busot and his former colleague in the Provincial Council, Alejandro Moranthighlights that Pérez Llorca combines experience and territorial vision. “He is a convinced municipalist. He will understand the needs of the city councils, a requirement to be president of the Generalitat. He is a tireless worker. He knows the Valencian Community“He has had a hard time with Mazón to reach agreements and negotiations,” he says. For Morant, his profile fits what the political moment demands: “In addition, he has shown that he is a good manager, it is the profile that the Generalitat needs, good managers more than good politicians.”
“He is a person who talks, a close person, anchored to municipalism and responsible”
In the same line it is pronounced Juan de Dios Navarroprovincial deputy of the PP, who highlights his dialogic character and the depth of his career. “He is a dialogue person, a close person. Above all, he is a person anchored in municipalism and with a profile, apart from being a tireless worker, responsible,” he says. Navarro, who has shared years of institutional workdraws a personal portrait: “He is a good person, faithful, loyal and a friend to his friends. He really likes teamwork and that strength always lies in the group of people around him.”
“It represents the regressive policies that have been applied in the Valencian Community”
From the socialist opposition, the assessments outline lights and shadows. Toni Frenchmayor of Alcoy and former spokesperson for the PSOE in the Provincial Council, points out that Pérez Llorca has always been “a politician who has been making agreements and pacts possible.” But he also underlines his role in the current stage of the autonomous government: “He has been Mazón's right hand. Therefore, I do not think it differs from the way of working and what Mazón has represented these years.” Francés does not consider him the ideal candidate for the Generalitat: “He represents the regressive policies that have been applied in the Valencian Community. Proof of this is that he is Vox's preferred candidate.”
“He has been the one who negotiated the entire PP-Vox pact in this legislature”
More nuanced is the opinion of Mayte Garciaregional deputy of the PSOE who has coincided with Pérez Llorca in multiple stages, both in the Provincial Council and now in the Cortes. “At an institutional level we get along well. We have had no institutional or personal problems,” he says. He underlines his ability to work without open conflicts, but opens up a question about the future: “What may come in the future will be seen. If he takes office as president of the Generalitat, we will see how he behaves. People change depending on where they are.” Remember, however, his key role in the pacts with Vox: “He was the one who negotiated the entire PP-Vox pact in this legislature, he has been the author. As a negotiator and person who sits down to talk, he reaches agreements with anyone. In this case, with Vox, to govern.”
“What really worries me when they talk about a negotiator is that he gives up too much with Vox”
Mario Villarregional deputy of the PSOE and also of the Marina Baixa, completes the profile from his close experience. “From those around me, they told me that at the university it was already clear that he was a born politician, that he was convincing everyone. He was quite persistent,” he recalls. As mayor of Finestrat, he highlights his municipal vision: “Since 2015 he became mayor and has been very skilled, with industrial, commercial and urban development.” But, like others in his party, he warns about the political dimension of the “negotiator.” “What really worries me when they talk about a negotiator is not that he negotiates, it is that gives too much with Vox. That is why the Vox ombudsman says that they like Pérez Llorca very much. It gives a lot of scope to the far right. There is a danger there in the future,” he adds.
“Pérez Llorca is the ideological replica of Mazón, he has been his most trusted person”
From Compromís, the reservations towards a possible presidency of Pérez Llorca are not only political, but also symbolic. Gerard Fullanaregional deputy and former spokesman for the coalition in the Provincial Council, traces a direct continuity with the acting president: “Pérez Llorca is the ideological replica of Mazón. He has been his most trusted person. That Salomé Pradas has it recorded on her phone as 'Llorca Mazón' is no coincidence.” Fullana maintains that the choice of her name is part of a Vox strategy: “If Vox chooses it, it is precisely because it is not an ideal presidential profile and Vox wants to choose the worst profile for the PP“. Although there are differences in form with Mazón, the conclusion is clear: “The substance is going to be the same. The shape is going to be different. Mazón was a person who with one sentence you knew what he was about, a confessed egomaniac, and Pérez Llorca is a more discreet and reserved politician, he is not going to hyperventilate as much.” He also points out possible pitfalls of the past in Finestrat: “He has precedents linked to urban planning that can be problematic. “Irregularities that can hinder you.”
“He is a person who does not engage in dialogue with the opposition, dedicated to the agreements with Vox in the Cortes”
Isaura Navarrodeputy spokesperson for Compromís in the Cortes, focuses on her current role as deputy ombudsman of the PP in the Cortes: “He is a person who does not engage in dialogue with the opposition who has devoted himself to the agreements with Vox in the Cortes, signing everything by single reading, without dialogue or negotiation.” Navarro criticizes what he considers an absolute alignment with the government strategy: “He leads the PP parliamentary group for permanent applause for Mazón and mockery of the victims. hoaxes and lies that the PP deputies repeat over and over again, despite the images, the documentation and the statements of the experts.” And he ends with a warning: “Putting him in is as if Mazón were still president. It represents absolute continuity. That is why Mazón is very interested in him being the president.”
“Every time we have spoken with him it has been with closeness and good manners”
From Vox, where they do not usually lavish statements along the lines set by Santiago Abascal, the regional deputy Miguel Pascual makes an exception to highlight Pérez Llorca's attitude in parliamentary negotiations: “Whenever we have spoken with him it has been with closeness and good manners. In every negotiation, it seeks to find meeting points to be able to move forward.”
“He demands the best from each of us, he is not the mayor of some neighbors or others”
In Finestrat, where he has been governing since 2015, the portrait is almost unanimous. Victor LlinaresPP councilor and friend of his since childhood, highlights both his involvement and his leadership capacity: “For me he is very hard-working. He has been a personal friend since childhood, from the same party hut. Open, honest, involved with all the residents of Finestrat, regardless of their color. A resident of Finestrat is someone from Finestrat.” For Llinares, his way of working print character: “He demands the best from each of us. Within his responsibility he gives the best, he is not the mayor of one or the other.”
“Much to my regret, he is a great politician and I have nothing bad to say”
In the local socialist caucus, the assessments are surprising due to their personal closeness despite ideological differences. Juan Algadospokesperson for the PSOE and his companion since university years, defines him with professional respect: “I can only say good things about him. He has been a friend of mine since I was little, let that be clear. I knew that he was going to make the leap to the autonomous or national policy“And although he recognizes that they do not share a political vision, he highlights his technical profile: “He has great knowledge of the Public Sector Contract Law and provides very good advice. He is a prepared, disciplined person, with a great working method. Much to my regret, he is a great politician and I have nothing bad to say about him at the moment.” Regarding his role in the agreements with Vox, Algado has no doubt: “He was the one who made the 'napkin pact'. Vox drinks the waters for Pérez Llorca. “He is a great ruler and he would do very well as president.”
“He has worked hard to be where he is and seems prepared to assume greater responsibilities”
Also from the local PSOE, Vicente Martínez Climent, former general secretary, recognizes his political rise: “We have spent one term in the City Council. I have nothing bad to say. He has earned hard work to be where he is. We differ ideologically from heaven to earth, but he is seen prepared to assume greater responsibilities.”
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