The Generalitat, led by Ximo Puig, has made a clear commitment for Vega Baja this legislature. The Vega Renhace Plan serves as a precursor to this strategy, and there are other steps that reinforce it, including the purchase of the Marqués de Rafal Palace to establish the presidential seat in Orihuela. These moves contrast with ongoing tensions within the PSPV-PSOE in the region. Torrevieja and Orihuela remain focal points, while divisions persist in smaller municipalities. The region faces a challenging start to the 28M race, even in a context where Vox gains ground and water issues demand attention.
The Dolores mayor, Joaquin Hernandez, played a decisive role in the race, supporting Alejandro Soler, who assumed the provincial secretariat of the Alicante socialists after winning the February 2022 Vega Baja primaries over the Guardamar mayor, Jose Luis Saez. This victory, while significant, does not calm tensions in a region marked as pivotal for the PSPV-PSOE.
resignations
The Torrevieja situation stands out. A manager has had to take charge of the party after the resignation of general secretary Andres Navarro, who also serves as municipal spokesperson and socialist candidate. Primary elections have been postponed since the end of last year as assemblies confronted serious internal accusations. Navarro had the support of Alejandro Soler and Joaquin Hernandez, but other candidates were sought from Valencia.
One initial option was Pablo Samper, the former socialist in charge of the Sueña Torrevieja project, who declined the offer. In mid-February a candidate named Joaquin Martinez-Campillo was announced, but he withdrew five days later citing health reasons. Barbara Soler, who serves as mayor, remains involved, and as of six weeks before the elections in Torrevieja, the full list had not been finalized.
Independent Bárbara Soler, candidate of the PSOE in Torrevieja
Another notable friction point occurred in Orihuela, where primary elections were not conducted to renew the party’s secretary-general despite a large group involved. Orihuela stands as the only provincewide case to temporarily appoint a general secretary a year later, a precaution that prevented a potential clash. Carolina Gracia, who led the group aligned with Antonio Zapata, almost secured mayoral support despite backing off after the party leadership demanded an act of generosity to protect mayoral candidacies.
In Orihuela, an alternative candidate emerged from the Alexandrians, with Carolina Gracia at the head of the slate alongside Antonio Zapata. Zapata even threatened to seek mayoral approval, though he backed off after the leadership demanded compromise to safeguard mayoral candidacies.
more municipalities
Around the province, the PSPV faces parallel challenges. The party is preparing to rerun in Benferri, where mayor Luis Vicente Mateo has faced harassment-related conviction processes, and two other officials face ongoing lawsuits: Miguel Lopez in Benejúzar and Jose Manuel Butrón in Los Montesinos. In Almoradí, the PSPV approved the candidacy of Jaime Pérez Pacheco under party statutes that limit repeating a militant atop the slate more than four times unless the individual serves as mayor. These cases illustrate ongoing internal scrutiny and the balancing act required for candidacy decisions.
District secretary Joaquín Hernández asserts that Torrevieja remains committed to Bárbara Soler, who comes from a political family and is expected to improve the party’s results. In Orihuela, Carolina Gracia is credited with effective leadership, while Dolores mayoral leadership faced substitutions that did not fully convince some observers. The PSPV notes positive prospects in Vega Baja, aiming to defend existing mayoralties and improve results in other towns through careful planning and candidate selection.