Candidates competing for the 28M elections take part in a busy schedule of events to announce their proposals. But beyond the dissemination of the program, direct contact with people is also an important element and The perfect setting for this are parties where both PSPV’s leader Ximo Puig and PPCV’s Carlos Mazón act like a fish in water..
It all started at the end of April, when, in the preamble of the election campaign, the Alcoy Moors and Christians Festival recorded a real politician landing. Diana Morant, Minister for Science and Innovation, and Enric Morera, Speaker of the Valencian Parliament, were seen there, among others, but the main focus was on some candidates who would run in the next regional elections. starting with the socialist Ximo Puig, head of the Generalitat, running for reelection; Carlos Mazón, president of the Provincial Assembly and candidate to take over in Palau; and also number one for Compromís, Joan Baldoví.
Since then, very few parties have not seen candidates from the two main parties, especially in the province of Alicante. Both participate in electoral actions specific to their political formations, but Participation in different celebrations has always been on the agenda in the Community of Valencia, especially in the province of Alicante..
Moreover, the visit to the feast intensified remarkably as the 28th of May approached. And for example, this weekend is the first of the election campaign. Ximo Puig took part in a real marathon, yes, something that, as president of the Generalitat, does not hide his candidate status in any case. On Saturday, he attended the centennial commemoration and procession of the coronation of the Virgen de los Desamparados in Valencia without going any further, then watched Blanca Paloma’s performance in the Eurovision Song Contest on the big screens that night. It was set up in a sports center in Elche, accompanied by socialist mayor and re-election candidate Carlos González. Aitana Mas, vice president of Consell and number one on Alicante’s Compromís list, was also present.
But things haven’t stopped there since Puig went to Petrer, a municipality busy celebrating Moors and Christians, on Sunday. Attended a luncheon at the headquarters of the Hititas-Moros Fronterizos comparison with the mayor and Irene Navarro, who would like to repeatbefore witnessing the parade of captains. In his statements to the media, yes, there were no election references, content to highlight the “identity and roots” of local festivities should such events be suspended, after “clenching his teeth during the pandemic”. festivities to prevent covid.
But if Puig’s party-based agenda is intense, then Carlos Mazón’s agenda is not far behind. After attending a neighborhood show with paella, including Elda, at noon, the people’s candidate also went to the Petrer festivities in the afternoon, where he toured several barracks accompanied by the mayor of that party, Paco Ponce.
Mazón made this visit as president of the PPCV and presidential candidate of the Generalitat, so in addition to praising the festivities, it allowed Ponce to argue that “Petrer will be mayor because he has the project he deserves.” As a result, this was just a stop on the way on its route, because later moved to Aspe to take part in the festivities in the Cipreses neighborhood., a celebration he can enjoy together with the mayoral candidate Sergio Puerto. And on Sunday, starting again, at eight o’clock in the morning, I was in Valencia to attend the Missa d’Infants in honor of the Virgen de los Desamparados, together with María José Catalá, candidate for Mayor of Túria’s capital. Where the community has the opportunity to promise a law of identity marks that strengthens its traditions and roots. And from there to Elche to attend the festive game day organized by the clubs of the city’s football team.
Puig and Mazón’s participation in such events seeks to establish direct contact with the public, but they realize that it can also make a performance in elections. This comes out in a study sponsored by the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya on the impact of local festivals on electoral support. concludes that more investment in this area in the final year of his mandate will mean more electoral support.not to be overlooked.
Moreover, the parties have found a good nursery at the party to feed their candidacy. An example of this is the PP list in Alicante, which includes Cristina Cutanda, Nayma Beldjilali and Marina Niceto, who are closely linked to the Hogueras. The socialist candidacy in the state capital also has a representation of fogueril by Miguel Castelló, Trini Amorós or Emilio Ruiz. The popular candidate in Orihuela is José Vegara, former head of the Moors and Christians.