Joan Baldoví was chosen by Compromís to try to turn the page on its biggest crisis: goodbye to Mónica Oltra's politics after her accusation for the alleged cover-up of her ex-husband's sexual abuse of a minor under guardianship. The deputy, who has taken over the reins of the Valencian coalition and is its candidate for the Generalitat, jokes that, as a teacher, the subject of “add” is mastered.
The support of Compromís for Yolanda Díaz's platform seems evident, although they have not yet given the definitive yes to Sumar. Why? At the moment it has been the officialization of Díaz's candidacy, because some specificity was already needed, but everything that Sumar is will have to be negotiated. Our objective now are the regional and local elections. What conditions will Compromís put in order to be in Sumar? If there is respect, horizontality and visibility for an option like Compromís, which is essential in Valencian politics, we will study it. But our relationship with Yolanda Díaz is magnificent. Would you accept Podemos' approach? In other words, a coalition of this party and Sumar, with the rest of the forces integrated into the platform of Yolanda Díaz. Compromís will not accept bilateral relations. In Sumar we must all participate on equal terms. Bilateral impositions and agreements are a bad start in Sumar. By impositions are you referring to the demands of Podemos? Podemos wants to reach an agreement before. And Add is still not. If Sumar aspires to be something, it should be after everyone has discussed it on an equal footing, not going to talk and already having an agreement that binds you. That's not a good way to start. On May 29 we will see. We have all summer to talk.
While some do friendly politics, others do not encourage voting
Why not before the elections as Podemos proposes? Because now the priority is the municipal and regional elections and the general ones will arrive. Let's not start things in a hurry. To add, we will have to celebrate [a word that in Valencian literally means having a loving relationship with someone]. Héctor Illueca, the Valencian vice president of Podemos, accuses Compromís of blocking the agreement with his party in Sumar. I will not enter into any controversy with Podemos. Neither Illueca nor Podemos are my adversaries. My adversary is the right and my goal is for Valencia to continue to have a progressive government. In fact, for the municipal ones we are signing agreements with Podemos in important cities such as Gandía, Torrent, Torrevieja, Orihuela, Elche…. Seeking polemics is the only thing it does is alienate the voters. Why then has Compromís refused an autonomous agreement with Podemos? If you defend the union to the left of the PSOE, why not in the Valencian Community? Because in the regional elections, a party of strict Valencian obedience must present itself with its face, its logo, its program and its people. We are a Valencian party, so it would not make sense for us not to go as Compromís to the Valencian elections. But, will Yolanda Díaz now campaign for Compromís? I would be delighted if she participated in Compromís events, and would help. I guess it will be discussed soon. My relationship with her is magnificent. She is a great minister and one of the best labor ministers this country has ever had.. She has understood plurality, and the respect that I have found in her I have not found in other ministers.
Oltra will be what she wants to be, but it is a decision that she must make
Do you think that the open war between Podemos and Yolanda Díaz could harm the electoral expectations of the left? The more noise and image of division, the more progressive voters move away. We risk too much to lose ourselves in sterile controversies that only benefit the right. And what do you think of the role that Pablo Iglesias is assuming in this sense? I'm not getting involved, but while some do friendly and pragmatic politics, others with their attitude do not encourage the vote. To try to reach agreements, the best thing to do is treat others with respect. What are Compromís' expectations for 28-M? We aspire to improve the results of 2019. I see people very plugged into the campaign. I sincerely believe that we will exceed expectations. Will Compromís not suffer from the traumatic change in leadership after Oltra's departure?. What we perceive from internal surveys is that we have already overcome that bad moment. What do these surveys say? That Compromís will be ahead of Vox and that the results will be very close, but there will be a third Botànic Government. With three partners? With PSOE, Compromís and Unidas Podemos? Or with two. Where do you see Mónica Oltra in the future? In that hypothetical Valencian Government, in the Congress of Deputies…?Oltra will be whatever it wants to be, and in me it will find all the complicities. But it is a decision that she must make. Will she also campaign with you? If she wants, I would be delighted. In certain sectors of the left, it is criticized that Compromís has done these years as a crutch for Ximo Puig's PSOE. No, what we have fact is to be in a shared government. The measures that a Valencian voter will remember the most are those that come from the Compromís ministries. If Compromís and Podemos add more than the PSOE, should Puig continue to be president? The Presidency should be for the force with the most votes of the three.