Joan Lerma Blasco (born 15 July 1951 in Valencia, Spain) is a Spanish politician for the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), who served as the first democratically elected President of the Valencian Government since the restoration of democracy in the 1970s.

He served as employment minister in the administration of the Valencian Community from April 1978 until June 1979.

In July 1978, when the Socialist Party of the Valencian Country (PSPV) decided to merge with the PSOE, Lerma was elected Secretary for political relations between the two groupings and a year later became Secretary General of the combined PSPV-PSOE, the regional branch of the PSOE in the Valencian Community.

On 26 November 1982, Lerma was appointed President of the Valencian Community after the resignation of Enrique Monsonís.

[5] One controversial issue was the proposed layoffs at the 'Altos Hornos del Mediterraneo' steelworks[4] which led to strikes by local Trade Unions.