All the cards are on the table. Aside from one big surprise, the expected candidates for Compromís primaries in Alicante have stepped forward. Aitana Mas, vice president of Generalitat; Gerard Fullana, spokesperson for the Provincial Assembly; Natxo Bellido, spokesperson for Alicante City Council; Marina González, Valencian spokesperson in Elche; and María José Calabuig of Banyeres, leader of Joves, are the names in play. Most coalition factions see Mas as the favorite, but the internal process remains open to controversy and strategic moves that could shape the outcome.
With a predictable winner in sight, the main challenge will be to blunt any erosion from rivals. Fullana and allies close to Mireia Mollà signaled they would present a dramatic tactic to the primaries, a plan that lost momentum once Mollà was confirmed as co-spokesperson for Elche. It should not be ignored that the Provincial Council spokesperson has aligned with Pasqual and Mireia Mollà to press for efforts that could weaken Mas. The vice president and equality councilor has joined forces with Bellido, who is one of five candidates and has indicated a willingness to reject the top spot from the outset.
Many voices within the coalition support a Mas-Bellido merger. Among them is former minister Manuel Alcaraz. The Regional Transparency lead argues that a split in Compromís could yield a worse regional election result, risking Valencian representation. Alcaraz’s backing for Mas is clear. “He represents what many seek: a young leader with experience and empathy to foster dialogue,” he says.
Area
If Mas begins as the favorite, forecasts place Fullana as a close second. Under Compromís rules, Bellido could not hold third place, while fourth place was reserved for climate change expert Juan Bordera to reflect plural representation, aligning with the province’s distribution. This would translate into the Alicante City Council having four district seats in 2019. A seat in the Cortes would be unlikely. The provincial spokesperson emphasizes the value of two terms of work in the provincial organization and continues to travel across the province to build support. Fullana hopes the evident friction between Mas and Mireia Mollà will bolster the domestic process, enabling Calabuig to gain traction by presenting a youthful voice and a coherent program that could gain visibility in the Cortes.
If Fullana advances through municipal channels, he will not be left out of the broader effort to counter Mollà and Mas. This approach is aimed at regaining momentum after the vice president faced removal, with Mireia Mollà serving as Minister of Agriculture and Ecological Transition in a recent reshuffle. Her first acts included bringing Marina González into Elche’s leadership team, a move designed to energize Elche’s vote and support Esther Díaz, a city spokesperson aligned with Mollà, who competes with Marian Campello, regional Minister of Innovation from Més, for mayor.
Winning team
When asked why he left the top spot, Bellido emphasizes the core aim of the primaries: to set aside personalities and assemble a team capable of achieving the strongest result. “The Alicante districts will be central to securing a third Botànic, preserving progressive policies and ensuring that austerity and right-wing corruption do not fade from memory,” the Alicante spokesperson notes, adding that the campaign will begin the day after the primaries, with critical decisions to come. The goal is to form a list representative of the coalition’s breadth.
These are the decisive letters through which Compromís members and supporters shape the provincial list. Regionally, forecasts suggest more than half of the starting positions will be renewed compared to four years ago, indicating a renewal phase for the coalition.
KEYS
VOTING DAY
February 11
The final primary results are set for February 11, with the campaign running from February 2 to 10. Telematic voting will occur February 8 to 10, followed by in-person voting on the 11th. The setup places voting in the regional context.
NOMINATIONS
until January 15
Applications close January 15, with an extended window from January 16 to 20 for collateral collection. In the regional context, no further action is anticipated.
RENOVATION
greater than 50%
The Valencian coalition confirms a renewal of more than half of the starting positions across the Valencian Community as part of the change process.
SYSTEM
Between one point and 0.2
The Compromís voting system allocates 1 point to the first option, 0.5 to the second, 0.33 to the third, 0.25 to the fourth, and 0.2 to the fifth option, as established in the primaries rules.
ABSENTEEISM
Climent, the most prominent
Rafa Climent, Minister for Sustainable Economy and Labor, has stated that VerdsEquo will not participate in primaries alongside Mireia Mollà, Marian Campello, Josep Nadal or Cristina Rodríguez, signaling a clear stance within the coalition.