PSPV’s Organizing Secretary, José Muñoz, attends a rally in front of Teulada-Moraira Town Hall. A push for a no-confidence vote targets the PP, which is backed by two councilors who participated in the 2019 elections under the socialist umbrella. The aim is to pressure Rosa Vila from Compromís to step down as mayor.
Muñoz recalls a tense political climate where government changes are often driven by disloyalty to party labels. Lawmakers who supported the maneuver have been expelled from the socialist family, and the Mazón-led provincial alliance reportedly sought refuge in the volatile phenomenon of transfuguismo. The move, backed by the PPCV, was seen as a bold third challenge in seven months after the official censure. The scene now shifts to Orihuela, where a new reprimand has emerged as a focal point in the province. In Orihuela, PSPV and Cs reportedly inked an agreement with Cambiemos (linked to Unides Podem) to challenge the PP this week. With 16 days remaining before a major assembly, changes to the local leadership from the Arrimadas faction are expected to be formalized, assuming no surprises. The Cs leadership has its doubts as an informative file could lead to further consequences. Regardless of how long the process lasts, PSPV presses ahead, aware that the five Cs councilors are acting independently and risk joining the state’s list of renegades without the party’s approval. The battle over the Orihuela mayoralty appears unlikely to soften the existing divisions within the regional landscape.
Cs turns its back on regional leadership and allies with PSOE and Cambiemos to remove Orihuela Mayoralty from PP
The argument once supported by those who criticized the Teulada-Moraira incident is now shifting sides, bringing the PP into question. The alliance question has prompted public questions to Ximo Puig about why a renegade coalition agreed to oust the government led by Emilio Bascuñana. Regional leadership sources acknowledge talks with the Valencian Community’s leadership, all of which suggest the councilors are drifting into new camps. The risk for Cs is rising, as talks of enforcing party discipline grow louder and the possibility of a formal ban looms if leaks occur.
Losing the mayoralty—held by the municipality that ranks among the larger towns of the state and the community—has unsettled the regional PP leadership. In a political environment focused on reshaping the Valencian right, a recent move to appoint a local manager in Orihuela adds pressure. If Bascuñana cannot secure the mayoral bid, Mazón would be free to appoint another candidate. For now, the party is following a timetable to renew leadership across the 60 municipalities slated for local elections after Easter. The outcomes in Orihuela remain pivotal to the broader setup.
For PSPV, backing the no-confidence motion in Orihuela carries two burdens. It signals an ambition to reclaim a historic City Council seat not held since the mid-1980s. It also complicates the path for Carolina Gracia if she intends to lead the socialist slate in the next election. The internal dynamics hint at a potential clash in primaries as Anthony Zapata positions himself to vie for influence over the local socialist group.
Cs opens a case on stubborn councilors in Orihuela for their deportation: “All red lines bypassed”
Zapata and Gracia have long been connected. In the previous term, Zapata left the PSOE and served as an unaffiliated mayor before rejoining the party later in Orihuela. A city spokesperson accused him of renegade status, and his return, approved by the national committee, cleared doubts about his alignment. Now tied to the current leadership under Secretary of State Alejandro Soler, Gracia faces a potential prime role in the local primaries. This internal struggle highlights a broader provincial and regional storyline, with PSPV arguing that the clash distracts from Vox’s influence and could empower a local faction considered temporarily immobilized. The councilors involved are publicly silent about their party affiliations, keeping official positions unclear.
Transfuguismo explodes with force in the Valencian Community
In Orihuela’s Cs group, leaders admit awareness of the consequences their challenge could bring to regional leadership. A split would mean the loss of one of the province’s strongest factions, given Cs’ historic roots in the Ciclo movement and its long-standing ties to the region. Today, Cs operates within numerous government formations in the state, and observers note it could be a matter of days before faction counts settle as 14 or more are confirmed.