Luis Barcala, the mayor of Alicante, aims to lead the Valencian Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FVMP) as its next president. He has stepped away from the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) and is jockeying to influence the regional federation, hoping to succeed Rubén Alfaro of Elda. The FVMP, traditionally steered by the PSPV, appears set for a notable shift following the regional and municipal elections held on May 28 and the recent changes within the Valencia State Council. These developments hint that the presidency may soon rotate to the People’s Party, among others. Despite past successes, the FVMP still governs four of the Valencian Community’s most populous municipalities — Valencia, Alicante, Elche, and Castellón — and holds a foothold in three state institutions.
Federation of Valencian Municipalities will elect its president on October 4
Barcala is pushing to helm the FVMP, but the path is strewn with obstacles. Foremost among them is the fact that Carlos Mazón, also a popular figure and president of the Generalitat Valenciana, hails from Alicante as well. Maintaining this concentration of leadership within the same province presents a delicate balancing act, even within the popular ranks. Historically, when both the Generalitat and the FVMP were controlled by PSPV-PSOE, the regional president, Ximo Puig, came from Castellón, while Rubén Alfaro led the federation from Castellón as well. With both Mazón and Barcala now from Alicante, some factions anticipate friction.
There is rising chatter, according to sources, that the FVMP presidency will likely go to a woman. Casting a wider net beyond Alicante and excluding some high-profile rivals such as Valencia’s mayor and María José Catalá, the former PPCV secretary-general who recently joined the FEMP leadership, the pools point to two mayors from major Valencian municipalities who could assume the top post. Paqui Bartual of Xirivella and Amparo Folgado of Torrent are cited as possible frontrunners. In both cases, the formation of coalitions that include Vox appears evident, reflecting a broader shift in regional governance.
Decisive
The PP has also gained control of the Valencia Provincial Council. Under Vicente Mompó’s leadership, the party determined that the FVMP should be steered by the popular parliamentary group. The group Ens Uneix, linked to the former socialist Jorge Rodríguez, played a key role in shaping this turn. Rodríguez himself was once considered a candidate to head the FVMP as part of the negotiations for the Valencian state apparatus, but that option no longer stands. The Valencian State Assembly remained in flux until the final moments, as the Ens Uneix agreement with the PP closed off the socialist path to preside over the institution.
The FVMP leadership race will be decided at an upcoming gathering. The councils’ votes carry substantial weight, with allocations based on population. In practice, town councils, provincial councils, and associations vote in proportion to their population, while MPs also cast votes, with state capitals receiving a bonus. With the three provincial councils in the hands of the PP, the trajectory of the federation’s presidency tilts in a direction favorable to the party. If Rubén Alfaro remains president, it will hinge on whether his party retains control of the federation.
In the FVMP, voting is population-driven. Municipalities with smaller populations have a single vote, while larger cities may accumulate hundreds of votes; additional weight is given to MPs, and state capitals receive a premium. The current political configuration across the Valencian Community gives the PP the leverage needed to possibly appoint the federation’s next leader, reshaping the balance of municipal power for the near term.
Among the major challenges facing the FVMP are securing European funds and addressing population decline. Renewing the personnel across several administrations poses a long-term task, particularly as a large portion of workers approach retirement. The incoming board will shoulder these responsibilities and chart the federation’s agenda for years to come.
A meeting is scheduled for next Wednesday to finalize the leadership selection. The assembly will determine the next president of the Valencian Federation of Municipalities and Provinces on October 4. Barcala’s name has appeared in the candidate pools, alongside contenders from Torrent and Xirivella, though the vice-presidencies remain unresolved. What is clear is that one of the vice presidents is expected to join the board of an institution that serves as the municipal voice within the PSPV-PSOE framework, marking another layer of political coordination in the region.
Note: The conversation around this executive transition reflects ongoing negotiations within Valencian political groups and alliances, with results likely to influence how municipalities coordinate on regional policy, funding, and development initiatives.