The relocation occurs during the 19th academic day of the indefinite strike by public education teachers in the Valencian Community. The strike began on May 11th and continues without negotiations to end it, as the organizing unions insist on direct dialogue with the regional minister Carmen Ortí.
The decision to move the tents was made in an assembly after discussions with festival organizers. This year marks the 700th anniversary of Corpus Christi in Valencia, with the Plaza de la Virgen being a central venue.
“"We haven't moved far. We've positioned ourselves on the other side of the fountain, outside the square, leaving the entire plaza free. Now we are very close together."
Camp spokesperson Datxu Peris noted the move was brief, though it forces teachers to stay closer together. She indicated the camp will return to the center of the plaza once Corpus finishes, as the group intends to continue using the space for protest activities but understands the celebration's priority during these days.
«On Sunday, when Corpus ends, we will return because if we need to hold activities like those we've done so far, we would use the plaza while they are not there,» she stated. The spokesperson also emphasized that the festival «is part of Valencia's culture».
The relocation follows institutional controversy over a potential eviction of the camp. The Valencia City Council had requested the Government Delegation to involve the National Police, while the Sub-delegation stated that responsibility lay with the Local Police. From the teachers' protest, Peris assured that this discussion did not influence the decision to move and described it as «an internal squabble between the City Council and the Government».
The strike faces another day of mobilization this Thursday. In Valencia, STEPV, CCOO, and UGT have called for a demonstration from the Plaza del Ayuntamiento to the vicinity of Les Corts (the regional parliament). In Alicante, the protest will start at 6:30 PM from IES Jorge Juan.
The day also included a slow bicycle ride for public education, which departed at 8 AM from the Conselleria de Educación (Education Department) and concludes at the Torres de Serranos. At the camp, teachers have scheduled activities such as storytelling and a talk about the 1988 strike.
Meanwhile, Ortí is appearing before Les Corts to present the educational budgets for 2026. The accounts include the salary increase agreed upon with ANPE and CSIF and an investment of 400 million euros in educational infrastructure.
The unions STEPV, CCOO, and UGT, claiming to represent 70% of teachers, demand that the minister meet with all organizations and present new proposals. ANPE and CSIF participated in online meetings with general directors this week, but these were not sectoral table meetings due to a lack of quorum.
President Juanfran Pérez Llorca stated on Wednesday that once these meetings conclude, the Consell (regional government) will reconvene all unions to discuss how to incorporate technical improvements into a framework document. He also noted that the Valencian Government «has not stopped seeking solutions».
