Josefina Bueno Takes on Dual Roles, Shaping Alicante’s Political Dialogue
Josefina Bueno makes a notable debut in two major arenas: she leads the Ministry of Innovation while also serving as a key liaison to Alicante’s social fabric, effectively acting as a direct interlocutor with the Generalitat president, Ximo Puig. He returned to work this Monday. First, he met with Nasser Kamel, secretary general of the Union for the Mediterranean. Later in the afternoon, discussions were held with representatives from the Red Cross, UGT, and CC OO. This sequence signals a central role for Bueno in connecting municipal priorities with regional leadership, especially as the administration navigates coalition dynamics and public expectations.
In practice, the former senator appears to be stepping into a role that mirrors a Consell delegate position whose formal place on the regional organizational chart disappeared during a prior reorganization. Yet the function persists in spirit, becoming more consolidated as the current term unfolds. The emphasis in Alicante is clear: Puig intends to preserve political influence over the area by strengthening the link between the provincial level and regional governance. The new arrangement, sometimes described as a belt of transfer authority linked to the provincial post, is gaining momentum as the political calendar moves forward into the new year.
Located in the historic Casa de las Brujas, the Consell’s Alicante headquarters is the space Bueno uses to conduct most meetings with unions, business leaders, and social organizations in the coming months. The property serves as the base for Antonia Moreno, regional director of the Generalitat Presidency, who is responsible for communicating effective solutions from various departments to the province through the president. Moreno notes that this legislature has already hosted more than a hundred groups, underscoring a proactive engagement approach. The district manager stresses there is ample capacity to absorb more activity and highlights that Bueno’s role centers on governance and communication. She positions Bueno as a spokesperson for the Consell, articulating the Botànic strategy and emphasizing projects that demonstrate clear direction compared with critics who claim a lack of coherence, including some from the opposing PP party.
Stepping onto the street and initiating outreach across Alicante presents a significant challenge for the head of Innovation, Universities, Science and Digital Society. Through these meetings, the department has reinforced its commitment to delivering hands-on governance that reflects citizens’ needs. The aim is to translate those needs into concrete actions and relay them directly to the President of the Generalitat. In essence, the approach mirrors prior work carried out by Moreno, but now with a bidirectional flow enabled by Bueno’s position as a Consell member. This dynamic illustrates Puig’s intent to capitalize on relocating the department’s first headquarters to Alicante, turning a perceived geographic shift into a tangible opportunity for collaboration and policy implementation. The shift is being framed as a turning point, and current discussions indicate a deliberate strategy to deepen ties with Alicante’s social and economic fabric — a move that allies with Bueno to strengthen regional alignment.