The Generalitat Valenciana temporarily combines the responsibilities of the social affairs portfolio with those of the justice portfolio. Regional president Juanfran Pérez Llorca defended the decision on Tuesday and expressed his confidence in Justice Minister Nuria Martínez, who is to oversee social affairs on an acting basis. The move follows the departure of Elena Albalat, who previously headed the Conselleria de Servicios Sociales, Familia e Infancia and is now standing as lead candidate for Partido Popular list for Castellón in the regional election on 29 November.
The legal basis is set out in the Diari Oficial de la Generalitat Valenciana published a resolution dated 25 October 2026 formalising Albalat’s departure. The regional government said there were no plans to appoint an immediate replacement to head a standalone social affairs department, Palau de la Generalitat. Instead, responsibility will be transferred to the department of Conselleria de Justicia, Transparencia y Participación. Details of the final division of responsibilities and allocation of resources are expected shortly.
Pérez Llorca presented the organisational merger as a pragmatic solution to ensure continuity in ongoing programmes. The government initially gave no details of specific effects on projects or staff. According to the presidency, the aim remains to streamline administrative processes and avoid overlap. The former Conselleria de Servicios Sociales was established as a standalone department in December 2025; with Albalat’s move, it will for now no longer have a separate head.
The opposition criticised the move as politically motivated. It points to different measures taken in relation to members of the regional government who are also standing for national office. Media reports have documented these allegations; the government rejects the charge of applying a double standard. Observers’ assessments remain speculative; for now, the authoritative document is the administrative act published in the DOGV, which enables the interim arrangement.
The Generalitat Valenciana said it would clarify the internal division of responsibilities between the directorates of the two areas in the coming weeks. Until then, Justice Minister Nuria Martínez will also be the point of contact responsible for social services. The regional leader reaffirmed that public services for particularly vulnerable groups would continue unchanged. Pérez Llorca left open the possibility of another departmental reorganisation after the election.
With this decision, the Comunitat Valenciana is adjusting its government structure shortly before the national vote. It is responding to a personnel change prompted by Elena Albalat’s candidacy in Castellón and temporarily shifting coordination of social policy to the Conselleria de Justicia.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).