Governing Control of Alicante Podemos Social Media Shifts to Regional Executive
The regional leadership of Podemos, led by María Teresa Pérez from Petrer, has assumed direct oversight of the party’s social media channels and communication outlets in the city of Alicante. The regional authorities explain that this move comes because there is currently no Alicante-based executive elected through a primaries process, a circumstance connected to the party’s difficult period, during which it has lost most of its institutional representation. The change also aims to professionalize the use of digital platforms for the movement.
Critics within the movement argue that Podemos has traditionally managed its own channels in Alicante and maintains that the recent communication from the regional leadership announced a renewal process completed on February 2, after which the region signaled that it had lost control of those channels. The notification outlines the responsibilities under the organization’s framework, noting that local entities assume the duties of all territorial bodies unless specific powers are restricted by higher regional coordination. In this sense, the regional executive takes charge of the social media accounts on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook, including access to these accounts as well as communications with the press: drafting and disseminating notes, media relations, and coordinating interviews and public announcements.
The notification further states that these responsibilities will remain in effect until a municipal citizen assembly is formed to renew Podemos Alicante’s leadership roles. A regional figure close to Pérez stated that, historically, when the organization operated as a regional management body, social networks were controlled from Madrid, highlighting a shift toward local control in the Valencia region and the emphasis on local governance and outreach.
The transition reflects ongoing internal debates within Podemos about how best to organize communication, public messaging, and stakeholder engagement in a political landscape that has seen rapid changes in local representation. Observers note that social media strategy is increasingly central to how parties present their platform, respond to constituents, and manage media relations in the digital age. The evolution in Alicante underscores broader conversations about decentralization and the balance between regional coordination and local autonomy in a national political framework.
As the renewal process proceeds, party members and observers will be watching to see how effectively the regional leadership can coordinate messaging across platforms and how the local base adapts to a more centralized model for communications. The outcome could influence how similar arrangements are handled in other municipalities of the region, potentially shaping future practices for digital communication and public engagement within the party.
In broader terms, the Alicante development illustrates the constant tension between centralized strategy and local empowerment in political operations. It also raises questions about how political organizations manage information flows, maintain transparency with followers, and respond to evolving standards for online communications—especially in a landscape where voters increasingly evaluate parties based on their online presence and media interactions. The situation remains dynamic as the party navigates its internal processes and the expectations of supporters across the city and region.