As the week progresses without crossing the halfway mark of its scheduled days, the Valencian Socialist Party (PSPV) looks ahead to the upcoming week. The focus is not on long weekends or political drama, but on appointments that could shape the internal future of the Valencian section. A climate of anticipation rules, with at least two meetings on the calendar that could steer the federation’s organic evolution: Monday’s governance discussion and the Saturday National Committee, which will feature a visit from the PSOE’s No. 3 official, Santos Cerdán.
The appointments of Rebeca Torró and Arcadi España as Secretaries of State for Industrial and Regional Policy mark a turning point in the internal dynamics of the socialists since May 28. Their entry into the national government requires a restructuring of the Cortes group, where Torró and España hold roles as trustees and deputy trustees. The selection of a new speaker and a seating arrangement in the parliamentary group will be the central topic at Monday’s executive meeting. The Secretary General, Ximo Puig, will propose a candidate, the proposal will be approved, and the group will bless it as well.
All eyes turn to Organizing Secretary José Muñoz, aligned with Puig. Although his name remains firmly in circulation, it is one of the most repeated possibilities. He commented, with a hint of resignation, that he had stopped weighing options. Other potential candidates include Toni Gaspar, former president of the Valencia County Council; Rosa Peris, the deputy secretary for Equality; Maria José Salvador, one of the party’s MPs; and José Chulvi. Mercedes Caballero faces a more challenging path. Whoever the choice, he or she will lead the group (assuming no further appointments) at least until the next party congress and the election of a new leadership.
Even though a formal reorganization is still more than a year away, movements could accelerate. Attention is focused on Madrid and the Tuesday sessions of the Council of Ministers. In Ferraz and among Valencia’s leadership, there has been a broad sense that Puig could take on the role of Spain’s institutional representative abroad.
Pedro Sánchez’s decision not to nominate Puig as a minister was read as a signal of a medium-term renewal for the Valencian federation. Had this appointment occurred earlier, an extraordinary congress could have opened the door for an immediate shift. Those close to the former president deny such a scenario. They confirm this with recent actions: Puig will chair the Budget Commission, the sole Senate commission led by a socialist, while the Valencia mayor, Juan Antonio Sagredo, will be vice-president for Economy and Social Affairs in the Labour Commission.
Puig’s ascent in the Upper House could mean he remains at the helm until the convention and guides the succession, though it seems unlikely he will retain his Cortes seat by that time. Expectation around possible changes has grown, and a major appointment is planned for the National Committee on Saturday the 16th. The day before, Santos Cerdán, the man in charge of coordinating the Socialist effort on Sánchez’s behalf, will visit Valencia and Alicante.
“It strengthens Puig’s position”
Muñoz emphasized that the Torró and Spain appointments reinforce PSPV and Ximo Puig’s standing within the national government, noting that both figures are fully trusted by him. The party’s government delegate and deputy secretary-general, Pilar Bernabé, affirmed that these are not mere reshuffles but steps toward building a government that dedicates substantial effort to the Valencian Community. She highlighted that the new foreign ministers will oversee two strategic areas for the Valencia agenda. She added that the work of Minister Diana Morant and the entire government will ensure progress for all, always with sensitivity to regional needs.
Both Valencian leaders began with roles that crossed paths with other political forces. The Consell’s spokeswoman, Ruth Merino, urged them to spotlight Valencia’s needs in the central government, citing essentials such as water, the ceramics sector, finance, and the Port of Valencia. Compromís Ombudsman Joan Baldoví urged them to act as Valencians who push Madrid on behalf of the community, highlighting debt and the distribution model changes as examples.