On 26 November 1982, Lerma was appointed President of the Valencian Community after the resignation of Enrique Monsonís [REF].
In 1983, the PSOE won the first elections for the Corts Valencianes since the death of Franco with an absolute majority[REF] and the parliament in turn selected Lerma as the first elected President of the Valencian Community since the restoration of democracy in the 1970s [REF].