• The new government delegate has taken office reiterating his offer of loyalty and institutional cooperation to the rest of the administrations

• “With due reciprocity, we must begin a stage that will turn us into allies in the defense of the interests of the Region”

• Lucas has announced that the auditorium of the Government Delegation in Alfonso X will be renamed Francisco Jiménez, in memory of the Secretary General of the institution and former government delegate, who died two months ago

• The event was chaired by the Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Courts, Félix Bolaños

12 September 2025. Francisco Lucas has today taken office as government delegate in the Region of Murcia reiterating his willingness to initiate a new stage of loyalty and institutional cooperation with the rest of administrations. “I want to be useful to my land, and that means, with due reciprocity, starting a new stage of loyalty and institutional respect that will make us allies in the defense of the interests of the Region of Murcia,” he said during his speech in an act presided over by Félix Bolaños, Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Courts.

The event was held in the auditorium of the Government Delegation in Alfonso X, which, as announced at the beginning of his speech, will be renamed Francisco Jiménez, in recognition and memory of the Secretary General of the institution and former government delegate, sadly deceased two months ago.

“Paco Jiménez was a good man in the broadest sense of the word, a passionate and committed defender of public service, in which he developed an extraordinary professional and political career that has left a deep imprint. His social, political and institutional commitment, his generous, affable and conciliatory personality, will be an inspiration in my work as a delegate of the Government of Spain in the Region of Murcia”, he said with emotion.

Defence of public services

Lucas has recalled his vital and professional trajectory to make a closed defense of public services. “I can say with pride that I am a child of public education, and with greater pride that I am a child of the efforts of my parents, Paco and Carmen, humble workers of El Raal whose sacrifice has allowed me to be part of the first family generation that has been able to access the university,” he said before assuring that it has always been used and will be used in his defense.

The government delegate thanked Bolaños for attending the event, recalled his joint work during his time in the Congress of Deputies and highlighted his professional and political stature. “That you are here today, in addition to being a great personal support, reaffirms the sensitivity and the unquestionable commitment of the Government of Spain with the Region of Murcia,” he said.

In this regard, Lucas recalled that, during the last seven years, the Government of Spain has allocated the greatest amount of resources in history to promote the recovery, territorial cohesion and economic dynamization of our country. And he recalled the enormous effort to develop social policies that cater to the most vulnerable groups and working families.

“We have adopted measures that, to cite just a few examples, have allowed 160,000 pensioners in the Region to see their retirement pension increased, 400 euros more than in 2018, almost 320,000 indefinite contracts have been signed, 243% more than in 2019. “Without forgetting the more than 150,000 beneficiaries of the Minimum Vital Income, the 45,000 students who have received a scholarship or the 70,000 people benefiting from the electric social bond,” he said.

Therefore, he added that he will continue to fight to consolidate the large strategic projects launched by the Government of Spain in the Region of Murcia, with investments that exceed 2.2 billion euros, only in transport infrastructures, since 2018.

“I am not going to shy away from any issue, because, paradoxically, it is on those issues that some more reproach the Government of Spain, where we have made the most progress. Because, with this government, contrary to what happened with others, there is no lack or lack of water. Fundamentally, because we have been able to anticipate a possible scenario of scarcity, investing in infrastructures that guarantee water to our irrigators and farmers. And that means, in case there is any doubt, that the transfer Tajo – Segura is not going to close. It means continuing to offer solutions to guarantee water forever. Because that is what the irrigators want and what the entire Region needs,” he warned.

Avoiding hate speeches

The government delegate has thanked the work and loyalty of the State Security Forces and Armed Forces, whose defense of constitutional values allows us to enjoy our fundamental rights and freedoms.

Lucas has assured that his work allows our Region to be one of the safest in Spain, 3.5 points below the national average in crime rate per 1,000 inhabitants, and has defended the increase in the number of Civil Guard and National Police personnel, which adds up to 546 agents more than in 2017.

Finally, the government delegate has warned that he will not tolerate fanaticism, xenophobia or hate messages being installed with impunity in our society.

“We will deploy all appropriate mechanisms and resources to prevent situations such as the one generated this summer in Torre Pacheco or actions such as the illegal concentration convened a few days ago in front of the juvenile center of Santa Cruz. Because the Government of Spain will guarantee the coexistence and rights of all citizens regardless of their origin, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity,” he concluded.