Angel Molla and Xelo Cascant, two councilors who recently left PP, are pursuing independent candidacies for upcoming municipal elections. Their move comes as part of a broader shift linked to Ens Uneix, a party founded by Jorge Rodríguez, a prominent figure who previously led Ontinyent and later presided over the Valencia City Council. Rodríguez is recognized as one of the influential leaders within PSPV in 2018, and his actions have shaped the dynamics of several local groups that were once affiliated with socialist ranks. The new formation emphasizes a municipal focus, despite past abbreviations and affiliations of its members.
Jorge Rodríguez captured a substantial absolute majority for the PSPV in Ontinyent in 2015 and has since chaired the Valencia State Council. He faced arrest in June 2018 as part of the Alquería case, a probe into alleged irregularities within the institution. Though released shortly after, he faced indictment in that same case and briefly resigned from his provincial post, remaining mayor. In April 2019, just before elections, he left the socialist ranks to establish his own party, La Vall Ens Uneix, which achieved a sweeping victory with 17 of 21 council seats. The governance in that district also saw another mayor, from the El Palomar area, continue to lead in a municipality of roughly 500 inhabitants, under similar socialist-adjacent leadership.
The party has expanded in recent weeks across Valencia, adopting the Ens Uneix name with geographic prefixes where applicable. It has now entered the Alicante province with the Muro chapter, led by Ángel Mollá and Xelo Cascant as the second in command. As a result, the voter bloc formerly known as Muro Avança appears to have shifted away from the PP in favor of this new platform. The public rollout occurred on a Thursday, with the Ontinyent mayor and other top local officials present. Mollá described the project as a fresh endeavor with strong momentum and a clear aim to build the city while continuing efforts from the last sixteen years. Ens Uneix representatives noted the new umbrella structure would streamline organizational operations ahead of the Election Board review.
The group has been dubbed as part of a broader set of mayors, with some members referencing a collective identity under the moniker The Ultimate Mayors. In Muro, a former PP candidate for 2011, 2015, and 2019 highlighted the shared values with Ens Uneix, describing it as a tolerant party with social charisma and flexible ideological lines, while stressing a firm leadership approach. Mollá and Cascant described themselves as having held mayoral roles since the first day and argued that collaboration across party lines could drive improvements in every facet of local life. They framed the move as a cross-project aimed at tangible progress for residents.
Jorge Rodríguez stressed the importance of municipal administrators pursuing reconciliation. He praised the ability to understand and move beyond past acronyms, emphasizing that the focus should be on the path forward and the people served. The Muro PP leadership referenced a governance pact in 2019 that had Mollá and Cascant at the helm, along with other parties, noting that the administration had not engaged in notable conflicts for four years. The message was to prioritize people over labels and to look toward the future rather than the origins of the factions involved. This stance aligns with a broader sentiment across local governance that collaboration and practical results should guide decisions, rather than rigid party allegiance.
The public record shows Mollá and Cascant decided to leave the PP after a district leadership decision that they could not be trusted for the next electoral contest. In 2019, the local council had four seats and remained a significant force, matching the number held by Compromís, the main opposition party in that context. The PP’s sole representative in the district continued backing Gabriel Tomás in a council session, but the government team remained intact for four years. For the upcoming elections, Tomás is contesting with Xarxa Muro, while Noelia Úbeda will run for PP as one of its remaining councilors. The unfolding scenario reflects ongoing realignments that underscore a critical moment for local political strategy and voter choices. (Source: regional political coverage and subsequent council records)