There is no need to wait for Ximo Puig to become the head of PSPV. Possible candidates take their places, but they wait tensely for the referee’s signal to start. Names have been on the table for weeks, but no one wants to be the first to run for general secretary of the Valencian socialists, because a blank start brings direct disqualification. Everything is on pause right now.
The shortlist looks clear at this point and consists of Science Minister Diana Morant and Valencia and Alicante state secretaries Carlos Fernández Bielsa and Alejandro Soler respectively. The latter two have expressed willingness to wait, and no official move is expected until 2024.
The card that will trigger the rest of the events appears to belong to Diana Morant. The former mayor of Gandia maintains a cautious silence about his possible move to replace Puig as PSPV general secretary, but many eyes are on him, including Bielsa and Soler.
His persistence in the Council of Ministers and Santos Cerdán’s recent visits are interpreted as signs that he is the joint claim of Ferraz (i.e. Pedro Sánchez) and Puig. All eyes were on him so that when the time came he could bring the trends together and prevent open conflict between families. This is an important point as it will eliminate the candidate image imposed on the minister’s environment.
But Diana Morant remains unmoved. Sources from the political organization state that the party has not acted and the party leadership does not foresee that it will do so, at least until the next national committee meets on January 8. From this conclave will come the official call for an extraordinary congress to name Puig’s successor, so if it fits into these times it would be in line with the unwritten tradition of not getting in the way of official protocol. The party is seen with good eyes.
That silence also reaches Bielsa and Soler. Political theory recommends waiting as alternative candidates. Ultimately, if an agreement is reached, the longer it takes them to give up weapons, the more organic power and influence they will gain. In terms of critical sectors, Morant’s delay in announcing his intentions shows that he does not see a clear majority.
Given the official inaction of those involved, local parts could act as catalysts. Time will tell the attitude of the sectors, mostly consisting of mayors, close to every possible candidate, which may push them to take risks and take a step forward, thinking that their time has come.
Meetings, dinners and gatherings began in the “socialist townhouses” known as local and regional headquarters, where different possible candidates took the pulse of militancy and began to establish positions. Informal movements of this nature have already occurred in l’Horta Nord and València.
Puig defends debt relief and urges PP to ‘go for it’
Former president and socialist senator Ximo Puig argued in the Upper House yesterday that the change in the regional financing system was inexcusable in this chamber. According to the PSPV leader, “an opportunity is opening up” to reach consensus, which he says can only be achieved by “talking.” The PP-controlled plenary session of the Senate called on the Government to abandon any bilateral debt or financing negotiations with any of the autonomies regarding Catalonia.
The popular ones carried out the initiative by imposing their majority, but Puig argued in his speech that this debt forgiveness could be extended to all regions, that the autonomies were beneficial for public funds, and asked the PP to “come to an agreement”.
The leader of the Valencian socialists assured that “the consequences of inadequate financing and the pandemic will be taken into account in debt relief” and asked the PP leaders “what is the model of Madrid, Andalusia or both”. “They can’t get along and they don’t want to get along,” he said. Puig also pointed out that the PP’s problem is that it “does not accept the election result” and asked it to accept defeat. “There are governments that I don’t like, at least mine, that are far-right and where a vice president tries to attack a member of parliament and we don’t show it,” he said.