The Valencian political landscape has changed drastically after the resignation of Carlos Mazón, and all the spotlights now point to Juan Francisco Pérez Llorca as his replacement at the head of the Generalitat Valenciana.
In just a few days, the secretary general of the Partido Popular de la Comunidad Valenciana (PPCV) has gone from being an internal party figure to become the natural candidate to lead the regional executive, pending the final endorsement of Vox, whose position will be key to his investiture.
Born in Finestrat (Alicante) in 1976, Pérez Llorca (familiarly known as Juanfran) has had an extensive career within the PP, based on local management and party loyalty.
From his beginnings in Finestrat to his rise in Valencian politics
His political career began in the City Council of Finestrat in 2003, when he joined as a councilman in the opposition. Four years later, he assumed the responsibility of Urbanism, and in 2015 he reached the mayoralty, a position he has revalidated with large majorities.
His management at the head of the municipality earned him recognition within the provincial PP, which incorporated him as deputy for Alicante in the Provincial Council, a position he also kept after the 2019 elections.
The rise of Pérez Llorca was consolidated with the arrival of Carlos Mazón to the leadership of the Valencian PP. First he occupied the provincial coordination, then he was deputy secretary of organization of the PPCV, and after the popular victory in the autonomic elections of 2023, he became secretary general of the party.
In 2024 he went a step further, taking on the role of spokesman for the popular group in the Valencian Parliament, replacing Miguel Barrachina.
The candidate of continuity
The close relationship between Mazón and Pérez Llorca has been a constant during their political careers, and both share Alicante origin and a similar vision on the modernization of the party and institutional management. Within the PP, Juanfran is considered a leader with a technical, prudent and efficient profile, more focused on organization and background work than on media exposure.
The national president of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has endorsed his candidacy after a meeting at the headquarters of Genova. The national leadership describes him as a leader of “transition and stability”, capable of maintaining the political course without generating internal fractures.
What is Pérez Llorca’s track record like?
Before devoting himself fully to politics, Pérez Llorca worked in the private sector, experience that he transferred to his public management from the consistory of Finestrat. Under his leadership, he promoted urban development projects, attracting investment and promoting local employment.
Considered a moderate figure within the Valencian Popular Party, Pérez Llorca symbolizes the continuity of Mazón’s project, although with a more discreet style and oriented towards institutional efficiency.
If he manages to pass the parliamentary procedure, he will become the new president of the Generalitat Valenciana, leading a key transition stage for the regional PP.
