Week in News: New President, Rising Traffic, and Renewed Protests

Bon dia! The Christmas season is here, along with holiday traffic. The City Council has mobilized a special holiday traffic plan on days with heavy congestion.

Sunday, 7 December, is expected to be especially difficult with the Valencia Marathon underway. Road closures will go into effect as early as Friday night near Les Arts.

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Local and National Politics

Pérez Llorca Sets Out His Agenda as Incoming President

Juan Francisco Pérez Llorca was voted in as the new president of the Generalitat last week. El País reported that Pérez Llorca delivered a folksy, Valenciano-language address drawing on his experience as mayor. He avoided any reference to Carlos Mazón while clearly aligning with Vox-backed priorities on EU green policies, migration, and fiscal reform. He also promised to work toward reducing the wealth tax and property transfer tax, among other fiscal plans, Valencia Plaza reported. He will be officially sworn in as president on Tuesday.

Protests Continue After Mazón’s Resignation

Over the weekend, hundreds demonstrated in Valencia calling for Mazón to face prosecution over his management of the DANA flood response, El País wrote.

Autónomo Protest in Valencia

In a separate protest, self-employed autónomos marched in Valencia demanding recognition and support under the banner: “No autónomos, no país, no riqueza,” reports Valencia Plaza. Demonstrators criticized the high cost of autónomo fees even as self-employed incomes are diminishing.

Madrid Protests for Early Election

Thousands turned out for a protest in Madrid organized by the opposition party Partido Popular (PP), demanding early elections to end the term of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, El País reports. The government is under pressure from a widening corruption scandal engulfing top members of the Socialist Party (PSOE).

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Crime & Policing

Bike–Pub Altercation Ends in Violence

A minor collision between a bicycle and a pedestrian outside a popular Irish pub escalated into a brawl, resulting in attempted murder charges, writes Las Provincias.

E-Scooter Insurance to Become Mandatory

Starting in January, e-scooter users in Spain will be required to carry insurance following a series of serious and fatal accidents. Valencia Extra has details on the requirements and possible fines.

Boy Rescued Half a Kilometer from the Coast

Search teams in Oliva used computer simulations of ocean currents to rescue a 10-year-old boy who had been swept out to sea for hours, reports Las Provincias.

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Economy & Business

PowerCo Expands Operations

The PowerCo gigafactory, currently under construction in Sagunto, is expanding capacity to supply Volkswagen plants across Europe as the company broadens its manufacturing reach, reports Valencia Plaza. The battery plant is expected to be a major driver of Valencia’s economy.

USDA Studying Mercadona

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is studying the Valencia-based supermarket chain Mercadona as an example of a thriving food distributor focused on domestic consumption, reports ABC. The supermarket chain is cited as a “cultural phenomenon” in Spain.

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City & Culture

More Cars, More Traffic in Valencia

A new municipal study estimates that there are 150,000 more cars on the road today than two years ago, reports Valencia Extra. Combined with ongoing roadworks, this has led to increased traffic jams and pollution.

Low Emissions Zone Cameras Deployed Despite Political Stalemate

Valencia will install cameras to monitor the proposed Low Emissions Zone, even though it has no political agreement to enforce it, reports ABC. Vox councillors abandoned a PP-led plan, risking more than €150 million in EU funding if the Low Emissions Zone isn’t implemented by the end of the year.

New Projects Approved by Citizens in València Participa

A pedestrian “superblock” in Abastos and a green cycle and walking path connecting the neighborhoods of Pobles del Sud are some of the projects that have been greenlighted, writes Valencia Extra.

Frescoes of Santos Juanes Fully Restored

Over the weekend, queues formed outside the Church of Santos Juanes as residents flocked to see the newly restored Baroque frescoes inside. ABC has more details on Valencia’s major artistic treasures.

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That’s it for this week’s news update. Keep an eye out for traffic advisories over the weekend—holiday shoppers and multiple sports events are expected to slow things down across the city. Weekend Highlights arrives on Thursday.