Two days later, Alicante mayor and re-election hopeful, popular figure Luis Barcala, moved Julia Llopis, Councillor for Social Action and Education, into the spotlight. The mayor appeared at a Vox event in Alicante on Saturday, signaling he would not be on the People’s Party (PP) list for the May 28 municipal elections. And it wasn’t a dramatic blast from the past.
With only a last‑minute twist remaining, Llopis is likely to join Vox’s bid for the Valencian Parliament representing Alicante, led by Ana Vega. All signs point to her taking the fourth spot on the list. Barcala, who joined the PP four years ago as a marquee signing, plans to hand over council minutes to avoid perceptions of political drift, mirroring patterns seen among other local figures who have moved between Citizens and PP positions, such as Julia Parra or Santiago Román.
At this stage, Llopis is one of two PP members who are not expected to continue after the election, alongside José Ramón González, the head of security, Mobility and Human Resources. The mayor has integrated into Barcala’s PP circle, in line with the National Confederation of Catholic Parents and Students (Concapa) in Alicante, where he serves as president. Before joining PP in 2019, Llopis had already explored a Vox roster for Congress, though she ultimately chose the PP path.
Now Llopis has decided to accept Vox’s offer after what many describe as ostracism by Barcala. To illustrate this political shift, she attended a Vox event earlier today alongside notable figures, including Ana Vega, the provincial list president; Carlos Flores, Vox Generalitat candidate; national MP Jorge Buxadé; and Alicante mayor Carmen Robledillo.
Barcala strengthens the slate: Llopis receives endorsement, former right-hand ally joins the fold, and two new faces are added
The move comes during a week in which Alicante’s PP has been navigating a flurry of lists and alliances ahead of the May 28 local elections. The party has been steadily announcing additions to its slate, including high‑profile consolidations and fresh entrants. The most recent signings include industry leaders and notable local figures, such as Tony Gallego, president of Lucentum Foundation and former Intercity CEO; Rocio Gomez, a journalist; Ana Poquet; Julio Calero Barcala; the Alicante Local Police Commissioner; and Urbanova Neighborhood Association President Carlos de Juan, a quantitative researcher by training. Other expected additions include current advisers Cristina Cutanda and Cristina García, seen as potential principal candidates.
The inclusion of Calero, known in political circles as a figure with a Castedista reputation, would shift the balance within the command structure of the Local Police. It could complicate relations with the current superintendent José María Conesa, with whom Barcala has had limited alignment, making this a strategic move for the party’s municipal plans.