Aitana Mas (Crevillente, 1990) has held the institutional positions held by Mónica Oltra for three months. Although she reiterates that she will abandon her charges if her predecessor is acquitted, the truth is that, in her speech, she already marks some differences, she makes self-criticism of the management and begins to raise questions for the future. Emerging figure in Compromís, there are not a few who see in her the future candidate of the coalition to the Generalitat Valenciana.
With the perspective of almost eight years, has the Botanic formula as it has been configured been worth it?
I think so, although the first Botànic worked better than the second. I think that, facing the third Botànic, we should honestly evaluate these two legislatures and seek to improve the mistakes we have made.
What was done well in the first and what has been done wrong now?
In the first illusion prevailed, that break with the model of the PP. That illusion was a powerful engine for the policies of change. Now, in this second Botànic, we have lacked freshness. I can think that governing in a coalition is not easy, that it has weighed the fact that many positions have repeated responsibilities, perhaps that has influenced.
How can you want to achieve a third Botànic if you have lost precisely that illusion? Is it already acting by inertia?
I don't think it's about inertia, it's that this second Botànic has been very particular. We have been plagued by natural and economic catastrophes, it has been very complicated. In any case, we can be happy with the response given by the Generalitat Valenciana.
Don't you think there has also been a significant deterioration in personal relationships? It is no secret that the relationship between Ximo Puig and Mónica Oltra was not the same as in the first Botànic. Or even many differences between positions have been externalized in social networks.
I think that personal relationships happen at the Botànic and in any family. Now we all know each other better; we know the virtues and defects of those who negotiate. That also makes it more difficult to reach agreements. What I do agree with is that in this second Botànic the discrepancy has been outsourced excessively, which, on the other hand, is normal and good in any government, even if it is monochrome.
Sometimes the anger on social networks has seemed more important than the agreements at the Botànic. Don't you think this harms the image of stability?
Yes, obviously. Around this reflection there are opposing positions in all parties. It is important to give stability to the Botànic, minimize these fights or that they remain in the internal sphere, but that does not mean following any party. Some believe that we have to differentiate ourselves from our partner. What we must combat is abstention.
But there are people from Compromís who think that in order to combat abstention, their own messages should be reinforced by critically confronting the PSPV.
But the problem is that to achieve this, if you have one row after another, what is heard is the row, not the proposal you put forward. If we want to differentiate ourselves we can achieve it, but it is not necessary to mount a fight, we must not go to that extreme. An important part of the citizenry knows how to differentiate between all the political forces, but if we generate too much noise and spread the idea that we do not know how to govern in coalition, the citizens will see that we do not guarantee stability; I think that stability is good and gives confidence in a government.
How is abstention mobilized then?
With our policies. There are many very disenchanted people, another economic crisis is coming and we must have a different response from the one in 2008. And people must see that we have policies to overcome that anguish.
There are not a few in his party who have externalized criticism of the PSPV, a party that they increasingly consider more presidentialist and less open to cohabiting in a coalition. Do you share this opinion?
I think that macrocephaly does not help to have stability in the coalition government. It is important that all the voices of the choral part of the government feel represented. We must establish the necessary coordination, better communication, then each position plays its institutional role. We have lacked internal communication in many cases; incommunicado detention that has taken root in more generic charges.
Do you think that the PSPV has resulted in a presidential management model?
I think there has been a greater macrocephaly in the second Botanical than in the first.
Are you talking about the PSPV?
Yes. And I think it has been one of the factors that has stressed us at some point.
What is your relationship with Ximo Puig?
My relationship is normal. We talk, we meet and we agree on those things that we must work on. So far it's friendly.
You have announced your willingness to review the miscegenation formula. How should it be?
We must think about it; I don't have the magic formula. Miscegenation does not work in the same way in some ministries as in others. That does not mean that miscegenation is not a valid formula. We have to make an effort to maintain it, but improve it, because I have no doubt that it has been a formula for success. We have to understand that consensus and dialogue are basic concepts of a coalition government… It must be internalized by each of the positions, not just the ministers. This is a team game, and, therefore, that way of understanding the pact has to reach the whole world and impregnate the government's action. Above personal affinities must be the health of the Botànic, and everyone must be responsible.
Do you think that a change in the management of the ministries in the games would help to recover that deteriorated freshness and enthusiasm?
I think that one of the things that can help, to consider that some ministries should always be for a party may not be correct. I understand the comfort of asking for what is known, but we must leave the comfort zone and try to have flexibility to have other areas. We are all capable of having another portfolio and managing it just as well as the one we had before.
We have had two legislatures but there are issues that are not agreed or are not completely closed: the tourist tax, the expansion of the Port of Valencia or the language requirement.
We must continue to dialogue. The tourist tax is a debate that has been resolved, but in the other two we will have to work out the agreement or a way to understand each other within the discrepancy.
Do you think there has been a lack of courage to address these issues?
I don't know if it's a lack of courage, what I do know is that there has been a lack of dialogue on some specific issues. I believe that some understand dialogue and debate as a threat and it should not scare us. We can do it with a thousand lights or do it from the discretion of a calm government, and I prefer the second. Fear should not paralyze government action.
Do you consider that it has been a mistake to enter the framework of the right for the tax reduction?
I think no one has talked about lowering taxes, but about tax reform.
From the Presidency there was talk of addressing the regional section of personal income tax and even touching the inheritance tax.
What we talked about in the seminar was that one of the differences between the right and the Botànic was that we did not propose cutting taxes as a magical solution to inflation. We bet on a tax reform that helps working families and those who have difficulty making ends meet.
Do you think it would be a mistake to touch taxes?
Yes, absolutely, because it is not our model.
Don't you think that it harms the Botànic to talk now about tax reform when the model has always been to explain the fundamentals of maintaining the quality of care and public services?
The two questions can go in parallel. Talking about a tax cut is demagoguery at a time when we need more income. If you want to shield public services, you cannot reduce that income. But we can also help families with that tax reform.
Would you like to be the Compromís candidate for the Presidency of the Generalitat Valenciana?
We'll see. It is early to decide on such an important issue, and in Compromís there are important leaders.
It is not closed to that possibility.
No.
Today Joan Ribó will communicate if he stands for re-election to the mayor of Valencia. Would you like it to be like this?
I would like it personally. I like the figure of him, the transformation he has made in Valencia, it would be great news for Compromís if he were once again the candidate for mayor.
Should Mónica Oltra be the candidate for the presidency of the Generalitat if the case is finally closed?
If she wants… She continues to be one of the leaders that these two Botànics have managed to have, and she is a person of enormous weight in our party. That is why she has incorporated that clause in primaries. We know that the judicial processes are long, but if the case is filed and she wants to be part of that candidacy, she will have the possibility to do so.
And to recover the institutional charges that you manage now?
Also.
How would you describe the position that the PSPV has had in the case of Mónica Oltra? Are they satisfied or did they expect more support?
I think they could have tried to have a more cohesive position around their case.
Do you also believe in the conspiracy of the extreme right, politicians and businessmen to remove you from the government?
Throughout these last weeks we have seen movements of all kinds, especially on the extreme right, which may give indications that, in a certain way, they have acted against Mónica Oltra, but that must be determined in court.
How do you see reaching agreements with other political forces at the regional level?
My personal opinion is that everything has its pros and cons, I don't have a firm decision, because I think we have some hallmarks and a brand that we cannot lose. We must assess whether this coalition of coalitions is a good option for the electorate, for example if a Podem voter would vote for us if we went together. We don't have a clear answer.
