A trend that began a decade ago, amid upheaval and new policies, sparked a renewal in leadership. Figures such as Peter Sánchezpablo, Pablo churches, Albert Rivera, and Díaz Ayuso were part of a political shift that aimed to break from traditional politics. The era reflected a time when anger over corruption and generational frustration demanded change. Ten years later, the two-party system endures, yet the era left legacies: coalition governments and the occasional collapse of parliamentary majorities.
The search for younger leadership continues. The Valencian left is undergoing another wave of restructuring. Last Friday, María Teresa Pérez from Alicante became the general coordinator of Podemos at thirty, a full decade younger than the previous leader’s age. Hector Illueca is referenced as part of that leadership transition. This Wednesday, Diana Morant will assume the role of general secretary of PSPV at forty-three. One rival, Carlos Fernandez Bielsa, has also recently entered the scene, and ombudsman José Muñoz is thirty-eight. Morant is a full decade younger than Ximo Puig was when he took office. The incoming head of government in the Palau de la Generalitat, Carlos Mazón, arrives about fifteen years younger than the former Morella mayor. The PP has also endured losses in recent years, even as it consolidates leadership in the capital with María José Catala after a mayoral victory, and similarly at the provincial level with Vicen Mompo, both in their forties.
So, is this better or worse? It is simply a sign of the times. A prominent observer notes that political change is accelerating, with new names appearing and leaving quickly. Previously, a forty-year career could be built; now a political path can begin and mature in a shorter span. The commentary adds that renewal becomes possible when leadership positions and institutional influence are handed on to younger voices, rather than staying with a defeated generation. In Valencian politics, this is seen in the regular renewal of figures who speak to youth and renewal. Morant, for example, consistently promotes a message of youth and renewal in public discourse.
Compromises, ’82 vintage
Within Compromís, leadership ahead of the 2027 election remains uncertain. Behind the scenes, veteran figures like Agueda Micó, aged forty-six, and other long-serving politicians such as Vicent Marzà, Alberto Ibáñez, Amparo Piquer, Gerard Fullana, and the former vice president Aitana Mas, in their thirties, symbolize a blend of experience and fresh energy. In Valencia, Ribo, at seventy-six, has suggested a succession plan involving Papi Robles, forty-one, as a potential successor. This renewal mirrors a broader trend visible across the Valencian Cortes, where many MPs are now in their thirties.
New way of communication
Savater highlights another factor shaping party decisions today: younger crowds adapting to modern society. The current moment in political communication favors candidates who are fully at ease with digital culture. Forty-and-under contenders are often digital natives who understand how to tailor messages for platforms like TikTok and Instagram and can engage with new opinion leaders. This shift is not a deciding factor, but it is an important dynamic that candidates must grasp.
Another topic Savater mentions concerns generational biases. Voters and parties often assume that an older candidate brings seasoned experience to topics deemed state matters such as foreign policy, defense, and economics. Meanwhile, younger candidates are thought to resonate more with issues affecting newer generations, including housing, LGBTQ+ rights, civil rights expansion, mental health, and the evolving impact of social networks on daily life.
International politics is also evolving
Across the board, the trend toward younger leadership seems widespread beyond election seasons. In the Valencian scene, leaders such as Marga Prohens and Pere Aragonés, both forty-one, appear as examples of this renewal. Looking outward, France has seen Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, thirty-four, named in a Cabinet reshuffle by President Macron, while Germany reports that roughly thirty percent of Bundestag deputies are under forty. In the United States, leadership ages present a different spectrum, with the elder generation still prominent but with significant new entrants. In Latin America and beyond, younger presidents have emerged, signaling a broader shift in political leadership around the world.