More calls for order after Mullah’s debate on renewable energy: Wants to escape personality
The political scene in Valencia saw Mireia Mollà leave her post through a back channel on a Tuesday, signaling a shift in the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Climate Emergency and Ecological Transition. A councilor from Elche stepped back from his responsibilities and faced expulsion from the Consell. In the wake of an unexpected move seven months ahead of the regional elections, an impeachment effort led by a vice-president of the Generalitat and handed to the regional president culminated in a moment of political realignment. Mollà and Mas share membership in the Poble Valencià Initiative, a core pillar within Compromís, a coalition navigating a notably delicate period as leadership changes unfold following Monica Oltra’s departure and the ongoing legal considerations that cloud future nominations. Mollà’s exit marks the fourth cabinet reshuffle in five months, while Aitana Mas consolidates as the second in command at the Consell. (Source: EFE)
The public messaging framed the event as a call for stability and consensus in a challenging socio-economic environment. Official statements from the Generalitat echoed this sentiment, while insiders close to Compromís offered a different read of the situation. After Oltra’s departure, Mas managed to align with the other two ministers in her faction, Rachel Tamarit overseeing Education and Culture, and Rafa Climent handling Economy. The consolidation of power did not come without friction, as tensions and errors surfaced in the broader discourse surrounding governance and energy policy. Critics argue the timing and management have bred confusion, especially around the handling of renewable energy incidents in Vall d’Ebo and Bejís, and the broader budgetary priorities that emphasize productive ministries over social ones in the next fiscal year. The party’s internal circle has dismissed dismissal talk as a strategic overreach that could jeopardize other regional departments under Compromís. Some Valencian commentators reference a longer-simmering internal dispute within what supporters call the Mullah clan, suggesting a simmering pressure that has now reached a breaking point. Yet, many within the coalition argue that Mollà and her allies, including her father Pasqual Mollà, do not see a future where seven months before elections becomes possible, and some view the move as a deliberate effort to reshape the coalition with national alignment in mind. (Source: EFE)
The events sharpened as political maneuvering intensified in the days that followed. The abrupt dismissal of Mollà, reportedly decided by Mas, was announced just over 100 days into Mas’s tenure as Vice President, Minister for Equality and Inclusive Policies, and a spokesperson for Consell. Within the Generalitat, Mas’s role elevated her to a position of considerable influence, while Oltra’s absence from the political theater continued to cast a long shadow over regional governance. By late October, the broader coalition faced a moment of reckoning as decisions about leadership and portfolio priorities moved from the back room to the public stage. Mollà’s removal, connected to the broader internal dynamics of Compromís, elicited a mixed reaction: some factions commended the decisiveness, while others warned of destabilization that could ripple through the coalition ahead of elections. Isaura Navarro, now stepping into the portfolio Mollà vacated, framed the transition as a new challenge on the heels of a pandemic-era recovery, signaling a shift toward renewed policy emphasis. (Source: EFE)
Observers in the inner circle described the transition as unexpected and difficult to justify, with fear that the decision might undercut dialogue and risk broader consequences for both the Consell and the party at large. Critics warned that the move could drain momentum and complicate budget negotiations, particularly if Mollà’s allies push back against the Ministry of Economy and the landscape portfolio. Some voices argued Mollà did not attempt to negotiate directly with the Treasury to defend the ministry’s budget priorities for the coming year, while others claimed she did engage in talks and faced stronger opposition. The overarching narrative, according to insiders, points to a leadership style that sometimes bypassed collaborative channels, feeding a climate of suspicion within the administration. (Source: EFE)
Mireia Mollà seen in Vall d’Ebo six days after the fire decision
The rift between Mas and Mollà had never been entirely hidden, but tensions escalated in recent months. Mas publicly urged a calmer approach after a plenary session, calling for an end to tensions and personality clashes within the government. In the days that followed, Mollà urged the government to push forward with renewable energy projects with the same urgency she claimed for her department. Some stakeholders in the coalition perceived these calls as challenging the balance of power, especially given the prominence of the Economy ministry led by Rafa Climent and the environmental stewardship led by others within Compromís. Observers noted Mollà had long pursued a more autonomous path, sometimes at odds with party leadership, which some interpreted as a reluctance to engage in broad, cross-ministerial collaboration. (Source: EFE)
The tension extended beyond formal channels. The internal debate within Compromís intensified after February, when Mas took on co-spokesperson duties alongside Alberto Ibáñez, a move that reshaped the party’s public leadership map. Mollà faced a loss of influence within Elche’s list and watched as the party rearranged leadership dynamics around the old Blok wing, signaling a broader strategic reorientation. The political weather grew more stormy as the coalition prepared for the upcoming electoral cycle, with Mollà and her allies contending with a shifting power structure in Valencia. (Source: EFE)
Poison darts from Cortes minutes before the charge
The friction did not end with official statements. In a public appearance at the Valencia Courts on Tuesday, Mollà faced sharp criticism from opposition lawmakers over her absence during the wildfires that hit Vall d’Ebo and Bejís in the previous summer. Mollà argued that she would not deliver photographs from the rostrum at an emergency coordination center for fires, floods, or disasters, calling the act inappropriate. Mas, by contrast, had made the fire-affected region a focal point of Compromís’s leadership during August’s emergency. Mollà’s absence from the 2019 DANA disaster response in Vega Baja was also noted by critics, including some within her own party. (Source: EFE)