socialist municipalities
The Federal Committee of the PSOE, the party’s top governing body, assembled this Saturday to approve a strategic reshaping of the core leadership in Spain and to set in motion the schedule for primaries and candidacy procedures. The gathering also laid out regional and municipal nomination processes, signaling a careful balance between national goals and local representation.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez faces growing pressure from the People’s Party candidate Alberto Núñez Feijóo, who has accelerated the nomination process that began last September. The new timetable specifies that nominations will be submitted on September 19 and 20, with the official announcement on the 28th and voting planned for October 9, potentially followed by a runoff on October 16. This schedule reflects a broader effort to maintain momentum while ensuring a fair and transparent selection process.
Following these dates, a second window will open for candidates to present themselves until November 20, with finalization on December 11 and nominations settled after that date. The local candidacy selections for socialist militants will target municipalities with populations over 20,000, encompassing a total of 65 municipalities within the Valencian Community. This phased approach aims to consolidate support at the local level while preserving a rigorous national framework.
This legislature and the next
Initially, it is expected that there will be few unexpected maneuvers, particularly in cities where the PSPV already holds mayoral leadership. Of the 65 Valencian municipalities with populations above 20,000, 39 currently have a socialist mayor or mayoral leadership. Many of these incumbents are likely to defend their party’s candidacy if they decide to pursue another term, leveraging established local networks and public visibility to reinforce party cohesion.
In areas where control of the municipal administration is not in PSPV hands, scrutiny tends to intensify. Valencia stands out as a notable case, where the mayoralty belongs to Compromís due to a coalition arrangement with the socialists. The natural candidate in Valencia is Sandra Gómez, the current deputy mayor and spokesperson for the city council, who also serves as the general secretary of the PSPV-PSOE in the city. Gómez enjoys strong support from regional leaders and local militants who recently reaffirmed her candidacy with broad intra-party backing. While Ferraz is said to back Gómez as well, there have been circulating rumors and tentative names proposed as potential alternatives in recent weeks.
Given information that the PSOE aims to promote socialist ministers into top positions within major cities like Valencia, Gómez has asserted that her party’s candidacies are selected by party militants and through open primaries. She reiterated that the Valencian candidate would be chosen by Valencians themselves, reflecting a commitment to local participation in the political process.
The situation in Alicante appears more complex, with uncertainty about who will run for mayor in May 2023. It is clear that Francesc Sanguino will not seek re-election. Amid this uncertainty, other notable names have emerged as potential contenders for the socialists, including Ana Barceló, the current spokesperson for the Cortes and former Minister of Health, and Josefina Bueno, the recently appointed Minister of Innovation and Universities. These discussions illustrate the party’s effort to assemble a diverse slate capable of challenging the incumbent PP and strengthening the socialist foothold in key urban centers.
“This legislature will be a point and the next legislature will follow”
José Muñoz, Secretary of the PSPV-PSOE Organization, emphasized that Valencia’s socialists are confronting a strong political climate and an ambitious project. He described the current legislature as a decisive stage and suggested that the forthcoming term would extend the momentum. He expressed confidence in the leadership of Ximo Puig and in the team assembled to guide the party through the next phase of governance and electoral preparation, highlighting a sustained commitment to leadership continuity and policy implementation.