Valencian Community: Institutions and Governance
The Valencian Community is a self-governing region in Spain with a rich history and unique political structure. The set of self-government institutions of the Valencian Community is known as the Generalitat Valenciana.
Historical Evolution of the Generalitat
- 1418: The General Council, initially called the “Generalitat,” was created. Its charges were valid for three years, and their functions were executive and administrative.
- 1510: The Courts approved the reorganization of the government, giving it a more autonomous and elective direction.
- 1709: The region’s self-government was abolished.
- 1982: The Statute of Autonomy of the Valencian Community was approved, re-establishing self-governance.
- 2006: The Statute was amended for the first time, granting greater self-government and eliminating the only remaining gentile, solidifying the name “Generalitat Valenciana.”
The Generalitat’s headquarters are located in Valencia.
Main Institutions of the Generalitat
The main institutions that form part of the Generalitat are:
- The Courts (Corts Valencianes)
- The Presidency
- The Valencian Government and its Directors
- The Audit Office
- The Legal Advisory Board
- The Economic and Social Committee
- The Valencian Culture Council
- The Valencian Language Academy
Election of the President of the Generalitat
The President holds the highest representation of the Community. They are elected by the Valencian Courts from among its members and appointed by the King. After each regional election, the newly elected President of the Courts designates representatives. Following consultation with political groups represented in Parliament, they nominate a candidate for President of the Generalitat, prioritizing the candidate who has obtained the majority support of political parties.
The candidate must present their government program, requesting the trust and vote of the members. In the first vote, an absolute majority is needed to be elected. If this majority is not obtained, a second vote will take place 48 hours later, in which only a simple majority is required. This process must be completed within two months of the first vote.
Powers of the President
The powers of the President include:
- Representing the Community
- Directing and coordinating the actions of the Consell (Government)
- Creating, modifying, and dissolving Ministries and Autonomous Secretariats
- Appointing and dismissing both Vice Presidents and Councilors
- Convening, presiding over, and adjourning Consell sessions
Valencian Parliament (Corts Valencianes)
The Valencian Parliament, also known as the Corts Valencianes, is currently based in the Benicarló Palace in Valencia, also known as the Palace of the Borgias. The Courts are the institutions of the Valencian Community that represent the people of the Generalitat. Its members are elected for a four-year term through universal, free, and secret suffrage.
The name “Corts” is due to the desire to recover the historical denomination. However, its operation is not the same as the historic Courts enacted by Jaime I, where the three estates were represented: the ecclesiastical, the military, and the nobility.
According to the Statute of Autonomy, the number of members of Parliament cannot exceed 99. Its current composition is:
- PP: 54 members
- PSOE: 38 members
- Compromís: 4 members
- Mixed Group: 3 members
Historical Context of the Courts
Jaime I and the Origins of the Courts
In the early 14th century, meetings of the three estates were held to seek assistance, which could be considered a stable and permanent constitution.
- 1216: Jaime I swore to the Valencian Charters in exchange for 48 salaries, granting the city of Valencia certain privileges over other kingdoms ruled by him.
- Jaime I established the obligation to hold general courts at the beginning of each reign.
- 1418: The Courts created the Generalitat.
- 1982: The Courts assumed a legislative and oversight role over the Generalitat.