María José Catalá has the pressure on her shoulders to recover the city of Valencia for the PP, a symbol of the hegemonic power that the party held until 2015. Because a victory of this caliber would allow Alberto Núñez Feijóo to confirm his message that the “beginning of the end of sanchismo” is near. But, in addition, it would mean taking away Compromís, one of Yolanda Díaz's main allies for her Sumar platform, which is her great fiefdom. If she did, Catalá would fulfill her dream of becoming Rita Barberá's successor.

Do you share the criticism launched by national leaders of your party that Valencia has become “indigenous”? Valencia has lost much of its position on the national scene as a great benchmark for an attractive city for investment, a competitive city from a fiscal or of a city that attracts projects. In this sense, the management of the left is dwarfing Valencia, a city that has a much larger vocation. In fact, it has said that it aspires to surpass Barcelona. How? The Barcelona of today is not the one of 92. It was cosmopolitan and has become a problematic city in general. In this context, and taking into account the strategic location of Valencia and its medium size, it may be attractive to concentrate all those projects that at this moment no one considers going to Barcelona. If we implemented a good fiscal policy by lowering taxes and if we did not close doors as we have done with the Copa América or the northern expansion of the port, it is clear that we can and must achieve that position as the second city in Spain.. I want to compete with Malaga and Alicante for cultural and innovation projects. And I want to compete with Madrid in the fiscal field. He wants to name Rita Barberá honorary mayor of Valencia, but the PP turned its back on him in his last years. Were they wrong? In the PP we were unfair to her, but in the context of that time another path seemed difficult. Over time we have realized that we have been much more sensitive to media pressure than the left.. I have seen the left during these eight years with very tough cases, such as that of the president's brother Ximo Puig collecting subsidies or that of Mónica Oltra accused of supposedly covering up the abuse of a minor under guardianship. Is the lesson he draws to endure? The lesson would be to defend our own and act on a case-by-case basis, without applying general rules.. Above all, believe in the presumption of innocence. Ciudadanos stands for these elections when the polls leave him out of the Valencia City Council. Could this end up frustrating political change in Valencia? I hope not. In this sense, we are calling for a useful vote. The need for change in Valencia is so urgent that I call on citizens to reflect and vote usefully. No vote should be thrown away or wasted. It has appealed even to the left-wing voter. Why do you think you can trust the PP? Because I know many socialists who disagree with Sanchismo and are ashamed, who see that local management is nothing more than succumbing to the whims of Compromís. I also know people from Compromís who had expectations that have not been met. The management of the mayor Joan Ribó is ideologized and part-time. I propose a model of a city that lowers taxes and is proud of itself. I don't stick to asking center-right people for a vote. I ask people to reflect on the results: in a context in which housing has become one of the fundamental axes of the campaign, in eight years only 14 subsidized homes have been built. If the left did not add up and the PP could govern as the list with the most votes, would it leave Vox out of the local government? I have to see myself in that scenario. The PP is the only political formation that comes out to win. I want a majority large enough to govern alone. The decision on any agreements that may exist will depend on the weight of each political force. What would be your 'red lines' for negotiating with Vox? I have three: feminism, the autonomist vision, because I am not willing to renounce self-government even one millimeter , and the European vision. Would you remain leading the opposition for another four years? The PP deserves to win and govern and I do not contemplate that scenario. In any case, I will always be available to the party, but at this moment all the numbers show us as the party with the most votes and with the possibility of governing. There are those who bet on you as president of the Valencian PP if you manage to be mayor and Carlos Mazón did not manage to be president of the Generalitat. Would you take that step if the party asked you to? I have always said that I will be with Carlos Mazón, in any context and at any time. He is my president. This project belongs to both of us. Besides, I believe that the city of Valencia will respond and the province of Alicante is an electoral cannon for us. Sincerely, we do not have to have any fear. And María José Catalá does not see herself outside the Valencia City Council.