For a slightly longer spell than usual, the National Executive Commission stayed tightly aligned with Ximo Puig. The PSPV general secretary acknowledged the election results on Sunday, portraying himself as the opposition leader who does not bear responsibility for the status quo.
The socialist leader vowed to guide the progressive project toward building an alternative characterized by constructive and resonant critique of nonsense within the Valencian Community. In a tone marked by solemn resolve, the current vice-president of the Council emphasized listening to colleagues above all. Many took the floor to explain who has steered the district Executive for eight years. In this sense, the socialist leader asserted his aim to heed the citizen’s call and to pursue this with the backing of his party and society. He spoke of acting as a self-imposed mandate, stressing the importance of democracy and self-government when voices question those values.
Miguel Soler, the campaign manager, also spoke, detailing what the organization accomplished during the campaign under the banner of President.
Facing his fellow members, Soler presented the PSOE as the alternative that must be strengthened with determination and proper conduct from day one. The goal is to become the principal governing project for the Valencian Community, and work will proceed to solidify that majority vision in the coming years. His address outlined a path for a long or at least mid-length tenure at the party helm, one that some perceive as surprising given the national leadership’s recent decision.
Background
In the prevailing climate, Puig’s decision to step forward appears to have averted a potential crisis. The candidate’s arrival at Palau for re-election drew more scrutiny than the Socialist center fielding yesterday. Puig highlighted several episodes in which losses of municipal power and the erosion of the Generalitat Valenciana were felt most acutely, despite gains in votes and seats in the Valencian Parliament.
PSPV secured 31 MPs, up by four from 2019; around 28 percent of the vote, translating to 691,715 votes compared with 24 percent and 643,909 votes previously. Those four percentage points could not stem the PP’s broader surge, and they also did not overcome the setback of Unides Podem failing to reach the 5 percent threshold.
Puig spoke of a legacy and a departure marked by integrity, emphasizing a continued commitment to work with head held high. He lamented the national pollution of political discourse and acknowledged during the campaign that polarization in national politics was affecting the region. The secretary general did not dismiss the campaign strategy but offered a candid assessment of what had been done. On Sunday night, Puig left the door open for leadership within the Socialists, suggesting that other people and teams would emerge, but there would likely be future progressive governments in the Generalitat Valenciana.
All political options now reset, with political groups preparing lists and managing regional autonomy within the broader national framework. The Valencian Community remains one of the regions with a significant parliamentary footprint, holding 33 seats, more than in the previous election.
Second from the left in a photo stand several senior figures, with Carlos Bielsa nearby and Alejandro Soler adjacent. J. M. Lopez noted this arrangement in reporting from the scene.
Carlos Bielsa and Alejandro Soler kept a low profile during the National Executive meeting, avoiding direct commentary on the developing situation. The two did not speak when invited, aligning with the Consell chairman’s preference to handle the delicate moment quietly as discussions stretched over nearly two months and a pending election call. Bielsa, who led in Mislata, emerged as one of the party’s rising figures, while Soler is known for his role in Alicante. Attempts were made to reach Soler for comment after the gathering but those efforts were unsuccessful.