In internal movements within the socialist ranks, a figure reminiscent of several peers is driving the process of selecting new leadership and redistributing influence among allied groups. This individual oversees the candidates, including the two with the strongest electoral backing, as they chart a path toward Ximo Puig’s succession. A preliminary agreement looks to be sealed before the machinery fully enters motion, with guarantees collected to kick off the process this Wednesday.
The backdrop is shaped by a tight-knit circle of supporters. Alejandro Soler of Elche, queried by Franco in a Sunday interview with INFORMACIÓN, revealed that he is aligned with the former Alicante senator and even asserted that the Alicante faction has long featured Franco’s influence. Soler, along with Carlos Fernández Bielsa and the three other candidates, has participated in this kickoff phase, with Diana Morant also seen in Gandia yesterday. The former senator attended the event, and although he arrived late to Soler’s Elche debut on Friday due to illness, his presence conveyed a position of significance.
Franco typically avoids the limelight during internal debates, yet his sway is evident. The socialist federation in the province holds around 1,000 delegates out of roughly 18,000, with more than half in the Alicante capital group. These delegates are highly pursued by both Morant and Soler. At present, Morant’s team contends that Franco is pushing a late-stage deal that would consolidate support around a single candidate in Puig’s succession. They insist that unity is essential against Carlos Mazón and emphasize that the PSPV should not be portrayed as a fractured organization by a single individual.
Those close to the veteran socialist note that Franco has pressed Soler to step aside as a unique nomination in this PSPV refresh, mirroring efforts seen since Ferraz. Yet the horizon remains open: January 31 marks the start of formal approval collection from preliminary candidates to become the definitive general secretary candidate for the PSPV. People near Soler say he is the most affected by the outcome, given the risk to his position if he cannot prevail against Morant. They urge that Soler be empowered to influence the party, valuing his experience, and they suggest that a classic bargain could work again. Meanwhile, his circle rejects the notion of duplicity. When asked about Soler’s alternative to stay in leadership and postpone Mazón’s opponent’s election possibly to 2027, the response is blunt: that path does not work for the party. The Generalitat is not convinced by that approach either.
On one side, Franco argues that Alicante’s weight within the PSPV should grow after years of limited influence. He also hints that Morant could claim a broader leadership role for the party at the national level.
Solérs’s movement is described as a classic effort with a cooperative tone that spans different levels of the organization, from the federal to the local. Morant is highlighted for bringing a younger profile and a potential for innovation through the ministerial portfolio. Franco has proposed a scenario where leading the government and heading the PSPV might align smoothly, though acknowledged that both roles carry distinct opportunities and challenges that could be managed in tandem.
Nevertheless, Soler’s candidacy faces scrutiny, and Franco notes that it would be inconvenient for Morant to spend most of her time in Madrid due to her duties as Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities. Time, he says, is a factor. The Elche candidate drew attention yesterday by submitting documents to participate officially in the PSPV’s internal process. He also stated the need to secure a clear alignment with his rivals, opening the door to a potential agreement that Franco has been seeking. He remarked that dialogue remains open, and the clock ticks toward a process where, if no deal is reached, a vote will occur on February 25, possibly yielding the final decision on leadership through an initial and perhaps decisive ballot. The outcome will reflect whether there is internal consensus or a faction-tight militancy that tends to hold firm within family lines, shaping Puig’s replacement as head of the PSPV. [Cited from INFORMACIÓN source material]