primaries
As rumors swirl about next year’s municipal contest, a fresh dynamic has emerged around the Alicante race. Xavier Lopez and Gabriela Taboada have become central figures in a leadership contest that could shape the left’s path in the city. Taboada, who has acted as the standing spokesperson for Unides Podem-EU in the City Council of Alicante, faced a setback in securing the guarantees required to extend her current term. The result is a shift: Lopez seems poised to lead the Podemos ticket in collaboration with Compromis, pending any broader unification of the left that could unfold in the provincial capital in 2023. The moment marks a pivotal turn in who will steer the left’s effort in this key electoral district.
primaries
Despite Taboada’s difficulties securing essential backing, Lopez is advancing his candidacy through the Podemos primaries, which open at 11:30 this Friday ahead of the next year’s municipal vote. The process will occur at the Town Hall square, with Podemos planning a vote that blends telematic and in-person elements between October 27 and November 3. The outcome of the López project will be announced after the primary. The official Podemos site will host the nomination details. Within Alicante, the current city spokesperson appears to be leading a team structured for the campaign, estimated to include about 32 individuals.
In parallel, López’s supporters have highlighted a different strategic emphasis. Lopez himself underscored the importance of a broader alliance that includes the Pedro Sánchez government and Botànic linked efforts, arguing that a united left is necessary to advance social and civic rights and to place people at the center of public policy. This stance reflects a broader conversation about how to align diverse left factions around a common platform for Alicante’s electoral contest.
Xavi López and Gabriela Taboada discuss the leadership of the Podemos candidacy in Alicante
Meanwhile, the provincial coordination of Podemos in the city has shown resilience in assembling the necessary support. Taboada, who is connected with Civil Society Space and the Cigarreras Circle, has faced competition in the race. The party’s ongoing efforts are geared toward strengthening the organizational machinery needed to present strong candidates in the upcoming election cycle. Lopez’s decision to step forward a week ago was accompanied by a public message on social networks, where he framed the current national government and left-wing movements as essential for advancing rights and keeping people at the center of policy decisions. The tone suggested a recommitment to a pragmatic, people-first approach that resonates with diverse urban voters.
unification of the left
The news that the municipal spokesperson will lead the purple project raises questions about potential left unity in Alicante. Podemos is actively seeking to build a broader agreement with other left-leaning formations outside PSPV-PSOE. The city’s Circles Council recently signaled willingness to meet with Valencian partners to explore a joint candidacy for the upcoming elections. The discussions mirror national moves seen in other regions where left-wing groups consider pooling resources to maximize electoral impact. Yolanda Díaz and the broader Sumar movement have also been associated with similar unification efforts at the national level, signaling a wider push toward broader coalitions in governance.