Next Saturday the PSPV national committee must approve the slate for the 28M elections. A week ahead, observers note the party’s organizational gaps and the lingering disputes around Palau’s leadership choices. In Torrevieja, the mood is tense; in Benidorm, securing a town hall feels like more than assembling a list, perhaps a symbolic milestone. And this pattern repeats across the region.
There is a meeting to point to, though it occurred in Alicante and Valencia, where the former senator arrived days before the latest gathering. The arrangement is not clear-cut. Franco remains determined to inspect the list, aiming to place in Alicante not the strongest candidates, but the most loyal. Within the same circle, other socialist factions have often struggled to define a coherent project, leading to deals based on quotas and mutual vetoes rather than shared vision. In Valencia, the same familiar dynamics surface, as if a familiar script is being replayed after decades.
The issue in Alicante is not a matter of internal democracy alone. The recent parliamentary assembly, where Francoists and idiosyncratic sanchistas moved marked lists, appeared more chaotic than democratic and would unsettle any observer of the process. It is not simply a reaction to external impositions from Valencia: if a request is met, some accept almost anything in return. The contest becomes a struggle for internal leverage and for how today’s favors will shape tomorrow. The central drama is that Alicante’s Socialist faction relies on Franco; yet the dependence often suffocates the group from within.
Last weekend’s debate highlighted the same tension: Francoists and idiosyncratic sanchistas influencing the local list. The event was promptly corrected by the local secretary, who issued a message of support to the minister and clarified the stance.
Ana Barceló has been chosen by the party leadership as the candidate for Mayor of Alicante. The decision isn’t about Barceló’s origin—Alicante has a history of leadership resting with people from outside the current city, including several former mayors who weren’t native. The point is whether Barceló has the necessary familiarity with the municipality she hopes to lead. The belief is that someone from outside the immediate local circle could break a blockade, demonstrating real capacity and credibility within the party. Barceló, previously mayor of Sax and later Minister of Health, also served as spokesperson for the socialist group in the Cortes and became the first provincial secretary after reform of the party charter; she now leads PSPV. This combination of experience and visibility is seen as a measure of weight within the internal organization and the broader socialist structure.
All of this points to the same pattern: a gerontocracy in Alicante that binds the Socialist Party with rigid rules. First, a routine reluctance to place a preferred name on the slate. Second, a broad notion of personal networks that includes family and friends. Third, the expectation that a weak performance in elections can paradoxically strengthen influence in assemblies. Fourth, a reluctance to break with established lines that would threaten the party’s broader alliances. The aim is to protect a local power dynamic that resembles an effort to maintain a shield around regional interests rather than pursue a fresh, national-wide approach.
The 2019 regional results showed a balance in Botànic’s favor—PSPV-PSOE, Compromís, and Unidas Podemos edging ahead of the right-wing bloc. Yet the left’s gains were uneven across provinces; in Alicante, the Socialists led, while the right gained ground overall. The current strategy is questioned: presenting a circus-like spectacle months before the elections does not appear to be the best course for the capital, where image and expectations carry significant weight for the party’s future.
Puig has pressed forward, but the likelihood of reversing the bloc dynamic in Alicante seems increasingly muted. The challenge has been compounded by the decline of Ciudadanos, and Puig’s broader aim appears to be preventing new fractures from widening as elections approach. The result is a delicate balance between signaling unity and resisting pressure to theatrically reposition the party, especially in the capital where image rules the day.
Historically, the Greek tale of the Gordian knot is invoked to capture how hard it is to untie political tangle. The real lesson in Alicante, as reflected by the party’s leaders, is not to attempt staggered reforms but to cut through with decisive action. The path forward is for Ana Barceló to push beyond compromises, vetoes, and quotas; to assemble a list based on talent, regardless of family ties; and to stand firm if others oppose. Puig’s mandate is now tied to the national committee’s upcoming vote. The goal is to align interests clearly and prevent gridlock from stalling progress in the region.
Battle of the Courts
JRG
As noted previously, the Alicante socialist group faced a moment of strategic ambiguity last weekend when it appeared unwilling to participate in the regional nomination for the Minister of Innovation, Josefina Bueno, a member of the group. This was less about internal democracy and more about a clear message of willingness to resist local demands for names on the slate. The stance lasted only a few hours, however, because the local secretary quickly corrected course and issued a supportive message to the minister.
Josefina Bueno will top the Alicante list for the Valencia Courts, a responsibility seen as significant given that Carlos Mazón, the contender for the Generalitat in the PP, will also contend for Alicante voters. The critical question remains: who will occupy the subsequent positions on the list, and how will the internal rivalries play out? Within this contest, the Elche group, led by former mayor and county secretary Alejandro Soler, seeks a meaningful presence in the top ranks. This dynamic has postponed the planning for both Elche and Alicante, delaying the finalization of proposals.
In 2019, PSPV gathered over 25 percent of the vote in this district, securing 10 of 35 seats. The PP took seven, while Ciudadanos’ decline reshaped the field. If the nationalist and conservative blocs consolidate more votes left by Ciudadanos, maintaining the Socialist lead could become difficult. The political map remains unsettled, and the outcome is far from assured.
Among the district lawmakers, only a few are notable; a general sense exists that many faces have faded from public attention. A search of archives reveals a relatively quiet slate, a sign that renewal is needed. There remains a strong desire within the party to refresh its lineup and present a credible, forward-looking group capable of delivering results.
Ultimately, the question is whether PSPV can achieve outward renewal or if it will opt for a more conservative, domestic consolidation. The upcoming weeks will reveal whether the party embraces broader change or settles for managing the status quo, keeping its focus on Alicante while navigating the broader regional challenges ahead.