The future of the PSOE candidacy led by Ana Barceló will be decided by voters in Alicante on 28 May. Yet the mayoral hopeful has done his homework, showing the leadership and judgment expected from someone who would guide a city.
For the first time in many years, the socialist slate shifts away from names known mainly to insiders. Critics have argued that the local PSOE has become detached from the city and its residents, a pattern the publication has long highlighted. This cycle marks a departure from quotas and vetoes, and the first time in fifteen years that a faction cannot claim to command the municipal group that forms after the elections.
Alicante’s PSOE seals Barceló’s list with six abstentions and near-unanimous backing
The party announced the nomination on Monday, representing the faction that submitted the nomination and the bodies that must approve it. The broader concern for the future of the Socialists was ensuring it was Barceló who led the candidacy, not Ángel Franco. The slate did not hinge on factions from the so-called sanchistas, montesinistas, or socialist left. It was not a lineup assembled by a single faction; Barceló is linked to the party leadership and has served as mayor through a personal commitment from the PSPV general secretary and the president of the Generalitat.
The key issue is not merely choosing who seeks seats in the assemblies but presenting a list that will compete in the elections. Will there be flashy names or references to the people who truly reflect the citizenry? The aim is for the public to feel represented by those asking for their support, and for diverse voting groups to determine which direction to take. The practical balance of support will hinge on voters getting to know those on the ballot through their daily work. Whether this goal will be fully realized remains to be seen, but Barceló has given voice to the party, energizing a local campaign that had previously seemed subdued.
Analysis, by C. Pascual | Barceló’s bid as a defining moment
The decision to publish the list in two stages, beginning with the top fifteen names, was deliberate. Fifteen seats would likely be enough for an absolute majority in council. Current surveys suggest neither the PSOE nor the PP appears poised to reach that figure. The number fifteen signals a clear message: the left is not a monolithic bloc. Compromís and Podemos are positioning themselves differently, while Barceló asserts an ambition to win rather than concede defeat. The political landscape appears to be shifting, with Barceló presenting herself as a candidate capable of steering the bloc toward a decisive result.