He was dismissed from the post of Minister of Agriculture and Ecological Transition, with no record of the proceedings taken by the Valencian Courts for leading Compromís’s candidacy in Elche in 2019, contrasting with the vice-president of the Initiative, one of the party’s most prominent figures today. The Generalitat’s political future remains unclear. Mireia Mullah is currently an unknown. As announced yesterday by the coalition, it is time to return to a personal assessment, a kind of winter quarter to rediscover oneself. It remains to be seen whether he will seek refuge again in Elche, make another bid for Madrid, or align with the left in the lead-up to next year’s electoral cycle. For now, a third consecutive local election candidacy in Elche appears unlikely after attempts in 2015 and 2019.
Puig after Mollà sacked: “There are moments in politics when you have to switch teams”
Within Compromís, some of her most vocal critics argue that Mireia and the “Mollà clan” have little following today. If true, substantial support remains in the city. Two councilors from the Elche Town Hall, Esther Díez and Felip Sánchez, are among their strongest backers in the Initiative. “We must acknowledge the work she did at the start of agriculture, which helped the Community stop being news. PP corruption must be addressed in tackling the climate emergency.” “The decision Aitana Mas made seven months before the election was wrong, unwarranted and irresponsible,” he said.
Initially, Mollà supported Díez to top the list. He is expected to perform in Elche in 2023, so it would be surprising if he retreats and seeks the nomination again. Among Mollà’s main supporters in the palm-tree city, there is a belief that she should enter a period of personal reflection and consider what a person like her, already holding a seat at 25, wants to do. The city values the active role the left has played in reclaiming the City Council after four years of Mercedes Alonso’s PP governance.
vilifiers
As with any political force, Mollà faces numerous opponents within Compromís who are speaking out with growing public visibility, signaling a crisis. From Més, for example, they argue that her return would be a misstep given her 2019 result, described as “bad.” In those elections, Valencians reduced their council representation by half from 2015, and Ciudadanos emerged as the fourth force. Following those elections, the traditional leadership redirected its path and sought new alignment for the party in the country. Botanical references aside.
Mireia Mollà: From the desire to succeed Oltra to being fired
In a radio interview yesterday, Mollà was asked whether she would remain in politics. “I’ve always been in politics because it’s the way to understand life. It affects everything and can improve or worsen our conditions, rights, and freedoms; everything is politics. It’s been, and will remain, part of my DNA since I can remember. My understanding of the world blends progressivism, environmentalism, and joy. Throughout my career I have never lowered my head, even in moments of tough opposition.”
take back control
She remains one of the most critical voices in Elche, lamenting the conduct in recent months since replacing Aitana Mas. Oltra, as vice-president of the Generalitat, is believed to anticipate Mollà’s resignation and to await a poor electoral result in 2023 that would create momentum to regain power within the Initiative. It is noted that at the last party congress, Aitana Mas ceased occupying one of the shared spokesperson roles, along with Alberto Ibáñez. In a recent interview, when asked if her dismissal would vanish into insignificance, Mollà replied, “I will row to position ourselves on the political project we need to be.”
Another possible path for Mollà’s career could be to boost Sumar’s influence as the left unites around Yolanda Díaz. It is worth noting that both Mollà and her father, Pasqual Mollà, attended a meeting organized by the second vice-president. The question mark hangs over Madrid, where doubts persist within the enterprise.
Compromís’s state race is now a contest among Mas, Climent, Fullana, and Bellido.
Comproís will soon open a primary process to nominate candidates for the next year’s regional and local elections. The two main coalition partners, Initiative and Més, have yet to agree on lists in Alicante and Elche, so a February vote is likely to coincide with the regional list. In this scenario, the extent of Mollà’s sudden departure from Consell and her open hostility to Aitana Mas must be weighed. Other factors include the ongoing tension since Oltra’s departure and the broader economic crisis and rising inflation.
One key question is who will lead the state list. From the venture wing, all signs point to Aitana Mas. Crevillentina is a weighty figure in the state’s formation, and her authority as vice president was strengthened after Mollà’s dismissal. Yet Mas has not confirmed she will appear in the qualifiers to lead the Generalitat candidacy, as has Valencian national vice-president Joan Baldoví. When the announcement came, Crevillentina criticized Baldoví’s pick, and some thought she might have been the top choice for the state as vice president.
The discussion extends to Més. Possible contenders for the district list in the province include Economy Minister Rafa Climent, state deputy Gerard Fullana, and Natxo Bellido, Reconciliation’s spokesperson on the Alicante City Council.
In recent days, comments have circulated about Mollà’s last visit to the Valencian spokesperson in Diputación, interpreted by some as alignment with Mollà’s faction within the coalition. While the visit was presented as part of Compromís’s opposition work in the provincial institution, Fullana appeared in photos with the coalition’s two mayors, Esther Díez and Felip Sánchez, in Elche, representing Initiative.