Despite extensive searching, evidence of a lasting inner struggle remains scarce. After the gathering, a cordial exchange followed among the three PSPV contenders who led the party after Ximo Puig stepped away. Puig once chaired the group, and his successors openly signaled an aim to shape policy for families, a goal Diana Morant has publicly endorsed. The first public act in Alicante by the sole candidate to lead PSPV opened this Sunday at the UGT headquarters. It offered a moment to reinterpret a familiar saying with a practical twist: the scene was less about faces and more about seats. The event unfolded as a theater of control and demonstration, a vivid tableau that felt almost like a performance of old rules in a city that now wants new direction.
Ana Barceló, still the PSPV president and a local Alicante spokesperson, sat in a place that underscored her stature yet suggested she was outside the inner circle of the most prominent authorities. The organizing secretary of the PSPV and Socialist Ombudsman in the Cortes, José Muñoz, stood by the wall, an emblem of deliberate, visible balance. Tensions within the local leadership stem from a long-standing clash since the 28th lunar election when Barceló resisted including quotas in her candidacy; Muñoz has repeatedly functioned as Puig’s operational arm during conflicts between the national executive and the parliament. In recent years, the number of local feuds has grown rather than diminished.
In the front row, the room projected a familiar hierarchy. Alejandro Soler, the top regional figure who until recently aspired to become PSPV general secretary, led the opening acts alongside Morant’s local secretary, Miguel Millana. Eva Montesinos appeared in a prominent position, followed by José Soriano, president of the city party organization, who also holds provincial, regional, national, and European roles. MPs such as José Antonio Amat, Laura Soler, Patricia Blanquer, and Araceli Poblador joined the line, along with Domènec Ruiz Devesa. The regional leader from UGT, Yolanda Diaz, attended as if the event were held in her own home, a reminder of the close interpersonal networks that shape local politics. The overall impression was that protocol had a strong say in how the Alicante socialist event unfolded.
From Luceros Square to Pablo Iglesias Street, Morant received a warm embrace from Barceló and Montesinos as she secured a privileged seat, a moment captured on camera in the service of endorsements in an open contest against the former senator. In attendance were former council members seated along the front rows, one after another: María José Adsuar, Lola Vilchez, and Juan Antonio Nieves, the deputy government delegate, who at the last moment found himself seated on a plastic chair in the corridor. Morant’s campaign manager, Eldense, who coordinated the support from the Soler camp, had left earlier. Ruben Alfaro, another Soler ally, was also noted among the attendees.
Diana Morant: “I want to copy the government’s policies to become an alternative to the Generalitat in 2027”
This seating arrangement reflected more than a simple schedule. It underscored underlying tensions and the absence of a clear, unified front. During her turn to speak, Barceló was urged to name the minister and future socialist leader by Morant, but the name did not come easily. The moment stretched as Morant scanned the front rows, then looked ahead, only to realize there was an empty space when she tried a third time to locate a candidate who could symbolize this next phase. The exercise revealed the fragility of the plan and the sense that some key players were not fully aligned with the program being promoted on stage.
The organization of the event also raised questions about preparedness and cohesion. Senior officials warned against a repeat of earlier chaos, signaling a potential risk for the local PSPV’s reputation. For the organizers, the gathering was a turning point, a moment that could redefine how the party operates in Alicante. If a sense of order was missing, it was not for lack of intent but because of competing factions and the practical challenges of coordinating a large, multifaceted group. The senior staff stayed alert, emphasizing discipline to avoid any recurrence of confusion and missteps in the proceedings.
Why this matters goes beyond a single event. It reveals a broader pattern in PSPV gatherings, where visible seating, staff assignments, and the presence of auxiliary staff signal the balance of power and the influence each faction wields in shaping the party’s future. The scene at the entrance, with a minimal emergency laptop meant to play the socialist anthem, underscored a desire for ceremonial precision even at moments of informal engagement. The crowd included families and multiple local leaders who observed the front rows with an almost ritual seriousness, while the more senior figures navigated the room with deliberate care. This event, in its own way, became a snapshot of the ongoing evolution within PSPV in Alicante and beyond.