The narrow vote gap in Ibi leaves the municipality on the edge of a political shift, with the Partido Popular (PP) fighting to take the mayoralty from the PSPV. The margin is so slight that it has attracted the scrutiny of the central electoral board after the PSPV appealed to accept nine votes that were ruled void. The final hue of the town hall hinges on how this dispute unfolds and on the timing of the Alicante Provincial Assembly’s installation, because a court ruling could push the process into mid-July, right in the heat of the national election campaign.
On May 28, Ibi saw a surprise breakthrough as the PP moved to broaden its municipal influence within the Alicante area. Rafael Serralta, a Popular party figure, secured re-election after serving three terms as head of the assembly, yet the council buildup pitted the PP against a combined PSPV and Som Ibi-Compromís bloc that totaled seven and four seats respectively. That coalition’s strength allowed it to occupy the mayoralty through a government pact, leaving the last mayoralty in Vox’s hands prior to the ballot.
From election night onward, it was clear that the struggle would continue, with the PP nearly sealing another seat that could have preserved its grip even as the socialists faced losses. The contest moved forward with a highly contested first round that could stretch into a lengthy recount, as the district election board approved the initial tally and kept the results intact. Within both parties, sources noted the council’s margin for switching allegiance had narrowed to two seats, as the board adjusted several votes deemed invalid, granting the PP three more and the PSPV two.
That adjustment prevented the PP from throwing in the towel, prompting another appeal to the central election board in the hope that the decision would favor its goals. The PSPV pressed for one of the invalid ballots to be awarded to them. If the central board’s ruling, expected between Thursday and Friday of the current week, goes in favor of either side, the first mayor will be sworn in on June 17, alongside the other local leaders.
The scenario becomes more intricate if one party chooses to file a contentious election appeal. Such a move would compel the mayor to attend a plenary session starting July 5 and could delay the formal establishment of the Alicante State Assembly, which was originally scheduled to convene between June 23 and 28. Under present regulations, provincial bodies cannot be formed until all city councils are set up; a dispute over these steps could push the general assembly meeting to mid-July, placing the process squarely in the middle of the national election campaign.
The current composition of the State Council appears clear: 16 deputies for the PP, 13 for the PSPV, with Compromís and Vox holding decisive influence for an outright majority. In Valencia, political dynamics show a different facet of the broader regional contest. The Mislata mayor and PSPV provincial leader, Carlos Fernández Bielsa, enters a strong position to win the presidency of the Valencia City Council after not receiving support from Jorge Rodríguez’s party, Vall Ens Uneix. Bielsa has begun shaping his team with the aim of managing the region’s leading left-wing institution under the group’s umbrella. The precise list will be confirmed by the state government on Wednesday, and several local figures—Neus Garriguez, the mayor of La Pobla Llarga; Jordi, the former mayor of Cullera; and Vicente Mascarell, the PSPV’s provincial secretary and Gandía councilor—are slated to be part of the lineup.
Valencia
In parallel, the regional political scene keeps its tempo. Bielsa’s path is watched closely as supporters anticipate a shift toward greater influence within the capital’s city government. The evolving team and the decisions surrounding its formation are set to influence broader policies across the province, signaling a potential realignment of power among the major parties in the area.