In a basketball game, the rule is clear: the score only counts if the horn sounds after the ball leaves the shooter’s hand. A similar principle surfaced in yesterday’s regional nomination news. The We Can slate connected with Alicante and the purple lineup moved ahead after joining Esquerra Unida del País València on April 13. Maria Teresa Perez is noted as the current head of Madrid’s Youth Institute and is seen as one of the younger active figures within the coalition government led by the Socialists.
A few days earlier, Alejandro Aguilar stepped down from the role of head of the Autonomous Secretariat amid whispered concerns about shifting loyalties. The backdrop grew tense under national pressures, particularly with the emergence of Sumar on the scene.
The tension intensified when Podemos’ leader stood out in a public ceremony during the traditional Santa Faz pilgrimage in Alicante, and the roster’s last minute revision was approved yesterday. By late morning, the party told BİLGİ that the change was a relief and that Perez faced the prospect of stepping aside so he could move ahead with the announcement.
Last minute change to Unides Podem regional roster: Alejandro Aguilar replaces María Teresa Pérez
Injuve’s regional director faced removal as accusations from the purple bloc swirled around just as a headline change loomed. Aguilar confirmed that the lineup was built around the positions Podemos held. The decision was never really in doubt for the formations and for Stefano Blanes. The candidacy, which will be filed with the Provincial Election Board on Monday—the final day for registration—will see Aguilar occupying the second slot with the party positioned in strong double ranks. After a morning of messages and talks, Pérez posted a brief note of thanks on social media that afternoon. The situation settled momentarily, but doubts lingered about deadlines and the pace of the process as it unfolded.
A spokesperson publicly denied that the move was connected to the appearance of the Sumar coalition led by Yolanda Diaz. Not really, he commented, acknowledging that Madrid’s reactions can distort perceptions but stressing that the coalition remains solid and growing. Aguilar added that the replacement reflects a decision by the party organization and leadership, recognizing that Pérez still had a task to complete and had accepted responsibility for it. He also expressed gratitude to Pérez for her work and vowed that the new candidacy would address the needs of Alicante residents in social, economic, and environmental terms, beyond names on a list.
The discussion around Sumar continued as Podemos and the European United green allies seek autonomous momentum. The aim is to align with Alianza Verde and Los Verdes while staying true to regional priorities.
The first steps in Alicante
Aguilar steered clear of sparring over Sumar and leaned on the remarks of the council’s second vice-president and the party’s presidential candidate to set a stage for Alicante. He spoke of welcoming Yolanda Diaz, Irene Montero, Ione Belarra, and Pablo Iglesias as part of the coalition, while noting that visits and municipal list finalizations remained a work in progress.
To temper forecasts about the coalition’s standing, the Alicante list leader emphasized that polls are political tools rather than precise pictures. While estimates suggested the coalition could surpass the 5 percent threshold and win seats in the regional Parliament, the emphasis was on pushing beyond the 8 percent achieved in 2019, positioning the bloc as a decisive force in the second Botànic coalition. The central goal remains strengthening social, economic, and environmental initiatives across the region.