Since the current week has not reached half of the crossed-out days, PSPV is already looking ahead to the next week. This is not a matter of long weekends and holidays, which also dominate the political news, but of appointments that could determine the internal future of the Valencian socialists. The atmosphere of expectation prevails and there are at least two meetings on the calendar that could define the organic evolution of the federation: the administration on Monday and the National Committee on Saturday, including the visit of PSOE’s No. 3 member Santos Cerdán. between. .
The appointments of Rebeca Torró and Arcadi España as Secretaries of State for Industrial and Regional Policy brought a change to the organic dynamics that socialists had experienced since May 28. His entry into the Government of Spain forces us to restructure the Cortes group, of which Torró and España are trustees and deputy trustees. The appointment of a new speaker and a member of parliament will be the main topic of next Monday’s executive meeting. Secretary General Ximo Puig will propose a name, it will be approved and the group will also approve it.
All eyes fall on Organizing Secretary José Muñoz, in Puig’s direction. Even though it is currently on the profile, it is one of the most repeated names. “I stopped wanting or not wanting,” he said yesterday. Toni Gaspar, former president of the Valencia County Council; Rosa Peris, the party’s deputy secretary for Equality, or Maria José Salvador, one of its MPs, and José Chulvi are other possibilities. Mercedes Caballero’s job seems to be more difficult. Whoever he is, he will lead the group (and barring further appointments) at least until the next congress of socialists and the election of a new leadership.
A regular celebration is still at least a year away, but movements could accelerate. The focus is on Madrid and the Council of Ministers held on Tuesdays. There has been a widespread comment within Ferraz and the Valencia leadership in recent hours that Puig may have the position of institutional representative of Spain abroad.
Pedro Sánchez’s decision not to elect Puig as minister was interpreted as a message of the renewal of the Valencian federation in the medium term. If this appointment had been made now, 20 days later, the door would have been opened for this change to occur immediately and through an extraordinary congress. Sources close to the former president deny this possibility. They also confirm this with facts: Yesterday it was decided that Puig will chair the Budget Commission, the only commission in the Senate that will be led by socialists, while the mayor of Paterna, Juan Antonio Sagredo, will be vice-president for Economy and Social Affairs. Labor Commission.
Puig’s election in the Upper House could mean he will continue to lead the party until the convention and pilot the succession. It seems unlikely that he will retain his seat in the Cortes by then. The feeling of anticipation regarding possible changes has increased even more, and an important appointment will be held with the National Committee on Saturday, the 16th. On that day and the day before, PSOE Organizing Secretary Santos Cerdán, the person in charge of the Socialists on Sánchez’s behalf, will be in Valencia and Alicante.
“It strengthens Puig’s position”
Muñoz stressed yesterday that the appointments of Torró and Spain “strengthen PSPV and Ximo Puig’s position in the Spanish Government” as they are “two people he completely trusts”. Government delegate and deputy general secretary of the party, Pilar Bernabé, assured yesterday that it is no longer time for organic changes, but to structure a government that “invests the most in the Valencian Community”. Thus, he underlined that the new Foreign Ministers will be responsible for “absolutely two strategic areas for the Valencia agenda”. “The work of Minister Diana Morant, our Foreign Ministers and the entire Government, always showing great sensitivity, will ensure success for all,” she added.
The two socialist leaders began to take office from other political formations. Consell’s spokeswoman, Ruth Merino, called on them to “give visibility” to Valencia’s needs in the central government because they “know them deeply” (she was talking about water, the ceramics sector, finance or the Port of Valencia). Compromís Ombudsman Joan Baldoví asked them to act “like the Valencians” to “put pressure” on Madrid with the demands of the Valencian Community, citing the debt or the change in the distribution model.