Francisco Lucas Ayala (Murcia, 1989) will assume the role of the new Government Delegate in the Region of Murcia this Friday, 12 September. His appointment comes in the midst of escalating social tension following episodes of racist violence recorded this summer in municipalities such as Torre Pacheco and Jumilla, as well as within the context of a growing presence of the far right in the regional political agenda. As the Secretary General of the PSRM since March, Lucas will now combine this organisational role with an institutional responsibility that has been the primary locus of power for the PSOE in the region for the past few years.
Lucas is one of the few regional leaders of the PSOE who balances his position on the Federal Executive Committee as Secretary of Constitutional Reform with his organisational responsibilities in Murcia.
Given your existing organisational role within the Party, with indications suggesting you will be the candidate for the regional presidency in 2027, and considering that the former Government Delegate held the position for a short time and carried it out competently, what is the reason for your appointment? The PP claims it is a partisan use of an institutional role.
My commitment to the Region of Murcia has not altered with my appointment as Government Delegate. Since becoming Secretary General of the PSRM, I have worked solely to defend the interests of all citizens in this community. Therefore, I wish to publicly thank the President of the Government for the trust he has placed in me and also to acknowledge the work of my colleague Mariola, who led this institution with professionalism and dedication. As for the transition, it falls within democratic norms: it is a decision from the President of the Government, which I accepted after deep reflection. I do not hide the fact that the events that occurred this summer influenced my decision. I refer to the approval of budgets that foster hatred, the racist hunts we witnessed in Torre Pacheco, or resolutions such as that of Jumilla, which jeopardise coexistence.
In this context, I believe it is more necessary than ever to forge bridges with the Government of Spain and steadfastly defend dialogue, consensus, and constitutional values. Against those who criminalise immigration and incite social conflict, as Vox has recently done in Santa Cruz, I will utilise all the tools at my disposal to combat fascism in the Region of Murcia. And I will do so from a clear position: I have not come to confront the regional Government but to be of service. That is my priority as Government Delegate. What civil society has conveyed to me in recent months is that institutional cooperation is necessary. And that is precisely what I will do: act as a bridge with the Government of Spain to facilitate progress in this land, in the face of a regional president who has entrenched himself in permanent confrontation and has burned all channels of dialogue.
Forging bridges, such as offering to approve budgets without red lines. Do you believe it was an intelligent decision?
Of course it was an intelligent decision, and I not only believe it but the events of this summer have proven me right. The proposal to approve the budgets without conditions or red lines was a sincere attempt to prevent the Region of Murcia from remaining a hostage to the far right. What we have experienced in recent months—the racist hunts in Torre Pacheco, the pressure against the minors’ centre in Santa Cruz—demonstrates that normalising and endorsing hateful rhetoric leads only to disaster. Fascism cannot continue to be legitimised within the institutions. For that reason, I would make that proposal again. My priority is to combat hatred and protect coexistence.
I am surprised that the regional Government and the Popular Party are now accusing Vox of indecency for the events that occurred at the minors’ centre in Santa Cruz when it has been they who, in exchange for budgets, have played with the rights of children and adolescents. They are the ones who have allowed the criminalisation of immigration and have ignited a fire that is now out of control. The responsibility lies with them, and the facts have made this clear.
Can the Government Delegation guarantee that there will not be any further mass assaults on citizens and journalists? The presence of State Security Forces in Torre Pacheco did not prevent several assaults before stringent measures were enforced.
I believe I demonstrated that this very week in Santa Cruz. An illegal call to gather outside the minors’ centre started circulating on social media, and immediately, I gave clear instructions to the Civil Guard to prevent it. That gathering was avoided and access to the centre was restricted. The State Security Forces acted effectively and resolutely. As I have reiterated in this interview, the Government Delegation will act firmly to ensure the safety of all citizens and protect their fundamental rights.
That said, it is also imperative that the regional Government acts responsibly. It is not enough to label certain behaviours as indecent if, at the same time, the rhetoric of hatred continues to be validated. It is not sufficient to assert that one is not racist; one must demonstrate through actions that one is anti-racist. If we wish to protect coexistence and safeguard democracy in the Region of Murcia, we need to act in a clear and committed manner. This involves definitively breaking with the rhetoric that targets vulnerable groups.
Concerning regional financing, the Regional Government has made it one of its main banners in the struggle against the central Government. What responsibility can the Socialist Party assume in this dispute?
First and foremost, I want to make it clear that the Socialist Party finds it urgent to address the reform of the regional financing system, and we share the diagnosis that the Region of Murcia is underfunded. However, this assertion must be accompanied by rigor. Reforming the current model requires a State pact, an agreement among all political forces, not a partisan exploitation of the issue. The Socialist Party already has a clear position: it was approved at our last Federal Congress in Seville. In contrast, we still do not know the stance of the Popular Party at a national level or that of the Regional PP itself. Additionally, it is worth noting that not all of the Region’s debt—over 13.5 billion euros—can be attributed to underfunding. Only 30% is directly related to the model; the rest is a consequence of waste and poor management over three decades of PP governance.
Therefore, it is incomprehensible that López Miras has rejected the cancellation of 27% of the regional debt—3.318 billion euros—proposed by the Government of Spain. This measure is not only beneficial for all autonomous communities but especially advantageous for a region like ours. In 2023, López Miras himself requested the cancellation of 3.2 billion; now that the State is offering even more, he declines it out of pure partisan interest since he is using the regional Government as an instrument in service of Feijóo. From here, I urge him to act responsibly. This cancellation would allow for more resources to be allocated to health, education, and dependency. That is to say, to the public services that the Region of Murcia needs the most. I hope he reconsiders.
What would you consider ‘fair’ financing for the Region of Murcia?
For the Socialist Party, fair financing for the Region of Murcia entails a model that guarantees equity among territories and ensures adequate funding per inhabitant. That is our position, and it was already set at the last Federal Congress. What we do not yet know is the position of the Popular Party, which has been governing the Region for thirty years. That said, it is important to underscore a key fact: in 2026, the Region of Murcia will receive 5.3 billion euros, the highest financing amount in its history. This demonstrates that the Government of Spain is committed to our land and acknowledges its uniqueness. Furthermore, measures like the partial cancellation of the regional debt do not only benefit Catalonia, as some would have us believe, but also favour all communities, including ours.
Thus, it is incomprehensible that President López Miras has chosen to reject the cancellation of 27% of the Murcian debt—over 3.3 billion euros—at a time when Murcia is the only community whose debt figures have worsened compared to the previous year and one of the two most indebted in the country. Relinquishing that cancellation is a grave error that directly harms the interests of our citizens. One cannot allow party strategy to take precedence over a real opportunity to alleviate public finances and strengthen the essential services that this region so desperately needs.
Then, why has the PP governed the Region for thirty years? What has led to this situation? Why is the Government Delegation the only area of power intermittently held by the PSOE here?
I have always maintained that self-criticism is necessary, and as Secretary General of the PSRM, it was the first thing I did: to acknowledge that over these thirty years we have not clearly conveyed to citizens that the Socialist Party is a real alternative to governance. But that has changed. Today, we not only have a clear project but are also demonstrating it through action. We have prepared colleagues, and this is evident in the efficient management carried out by our mayors in numerous municipalities across the Region. We have a team, we have ideas, and we have a will for change.
That said, I am currently not focused on what will happen in 2027 but on being useful to the Region of Murcia from the Government Delegation. I am concerned about the real issues facing citizens: the lack of housing for young people, the hateful rhetoric that endangers coexistence, the criminalisation of immigration, and the partisan use of security by the regional Government. What occupies my mind is that this region progresses, that there is more welfare, more social justice, and more opportunities. The citizens will decide whom they trust, but we will continue to work from now on to earn that trust.
Regarding the development of the Region, we are significantly behind with certain key infrastructures, such as the Mediterranean Corridor connecting Murcia, Cartagena, and Almería via Lorca. What timelines does the Government have for its inauguration?
The first thing to understand is where we started from. When we assumed Government in 2018, we encountered a neglected railway network, with leaks and not a single electrified kilometre of track. Since then, historic investments have been made to modernise the entire railway network in the Region. We have introduced high-speed rail to the city of Murcia and have done so underground, thereby resolving a social conflict that the previous PP Government aggravated through repression. Instead of the beatings from then, we now have a modern, underground station and an operational AVE. Regarding the Mediterranean Corridor, all stretches between Murcia and Lorca are under construction and progressing well. In Cartagena, two stretches are already in operation while the remainder is in the drafting and planning phase.
The investment by the Government of Spain in railway infrastructure in the Region has already exceeded 2.2 billion euros since 2017. This is an unprecedented figure that dismantles the mantra of neglect repeated by the Popular Party. The reality is that the commitment of the Ministry of Transport and the Government of Spain to the Region of Murcia is unquestionable. The new Carmen Station will be ready for inauguration by the end of this year or the beginning of the next. And my commitment, as Government Delegate, is to continue promoting each and every one of the projects currently underway and ensure that the deadlines are met. Because what is important is not to repeat victimising discourses but to execute works and deliver on commitments.
And what about the tram in the city of Murcia to the Carmen Station?
The case of the tram to Carmen Station is another clear example of the Government of Spain’s commitment to the city of Murcia. A first protocol was signed to execute this stretch, but it expired because the City Council of Murcia did not fulfil its part and missed the deadlines. Nevertheless, the Government of Spain renewed the agreement, demonstrating a firm will to proceed with the project. However, to date, I have no record that the City Council has fulfilled its obligations or taken the necessary steps. The State’s commitment is evident, but now it is up to the City Council and the Regional Government to demonstrate, with actions and budget, that they genuinely wish to implement this key infrastructure for mobility in the city.
Many political analysts agree that Vox is the real opposition to López Miras’s government. Essentially, they contend that the left plays a minor role. What role should the PSOE play in this context?
I disagree with that assertion. For me, Vox is not simply the real opposition to López Miras’s government; Vox is the one governing the Region of Murcia. They do not oppose; they govern de facto. We witness this daily, unfortunately. From the imposition of hateful rhetoric to the conditioning of public policies. In the face of this, the role of the Socialist Party is clear: to work responsibly, address the structural problems that the Region has carried for decades, and provide real solutions. We are doing this from the Government of Spain and also from the Government Delegation, where my commitment is to serve as an institutional bridge to ensure progress and protect coexistence. That is what civil society is asking of us: responsibility, social peace, and a clear direction amidst the noise.
And in just one week, we have made significant strides. We ordered the immediate removal of Francoist symbols detected during the Murcia Fair, and we prevented an illegal gathering outside the minors’ centre in Santa Cruz. That is the type of opposition we are engaging in: firm, yet constructive. The Government of Spain also demonstrates this with its international stance, such as denouncing the genocide in Gaza. And that is the model I advocate: a useful policy, determined but without descending into acrimony. Being useful to citizens also means confronting fascism, guaranteeing rights, and enhancing welfare. This is where the Socialist Party stands, and this is what I will continue to work towards.
It is also said that the PP has appropriated the regionalist discourse and appears more comfortable discussing issues such as the Tajo-Segura Transfer.
Since I was elected Secretary General of the PSRM, we have worked to regain a distinct profile in defending the interests of the Region of Murcia, and we are demonstrating this through action. At the PSOE Regional Congress, before the President of the Government and the Secretary General of the party, I made it clear that the Tajo-Segura transfer will not be closed. I stated this emphatically and without ambiguities, also in the presence of the regional president, Fernando López Miras, and all PSOE deputies. In contrast to the PP’s mantras, which have been repeating the same discourses for three decades without resolving the region’s real issues, we have opted for responsibility, clarity, and a commitment to the unresolved structural needs. Because what is important is not who shouts the loudest, but who defends with action what this land truly needs.
If in 2027 a PSOE abstention eliminated Vox’s influence in the PP, would you be willing to do so?
The Socialist Party will enter the 2027 elections with the aim of winning and governing this Region. I do not contemplate any scenario other than that. We are a state party, but we are also an ambitious party with a majority outlook. And we will demonstrate this. Our goal is to provide a clear, solid, and credible alternative that returns a progressive government committed to the real issues of the citizens to the Region of Murcia. Everything else, at this moment, does not fall within our priorities. We are focused on building that winning project.
