Valencia
Albaceteed no. This is the way Alicante witnessed a dramatic political shift on the night of March 28. The right-wing bloc surged ahead of PSPV, which ceded several traditional strongholds. Luis Barcala tightened his grip on Alicante’s capital by securing an almost complete majority, enabling him to govern without formal coalitions. The sense in Alicante’s local headquarters was electric, as the party absorbed Ciudadanos and increased council seats from nine to fourteen, signaling a broader retreat of the left amid the weakening of EU-Podemos and the PSOE under Ana Barceló. Compromís managed to maintain momentum, creating a favorable climate for Barcala who found governance opportunities largely on his own terms.
In Elche, socialist Carlos González still carried the title of mayor, but his control slipped when Pablo Ruz of the Popular Party formed a victorious alliance with Vox. Orihuela followed a similar pattern, with PSPV candidate Carolina García losing command to Pepe Vegara of the PP. San Vicente del Raspeig saw the socialist Jesús Villar lose leadership to the PP under Pachi Pascual, and La Vila Joiosa experienced a comparable shift with Andreu Verdú being supplanted by Marcos Zaragoza after pressure from the PP. In Xàbia, Rosa Cardona of the PP prevailed with backing from independents allied to CpJ and Vox, dethroning socialist José Chulvi in a closely watched contest.
The PSPV did secure the Elda mayoralty, while Alcoy presented a tighter picture: Rubén Alfaro nearly achieved an absolute majority, and Toni Francés found himself negotiating with Compromís after losing three seats. The electoral landscape thus highlighted the PP’s steady hold on key municipalities like Benidorm and Torrevieja, with Toni Pérez and Eduardo Dolón strengthening their overall majority. Calp, however, marked a disruption as Ana Sala, who remained in the race as an independent, drew support from both the PSPV and Compromís, signaling continued volatility in the region.
Valencia
2023 brought notable changes to Valencia city as May 28’s municipal elections reshaped the political map. The Rialto Government, a coalition between Compromís and PSPV, surrendered the mayoralty to the alliance of PP and Vox. The eight-year administration led by Joan Ribó closed, giving way to María José Catalá and marking a return to the PP’s governance eight years after Rita Barberá’s departure. This transition offered a reflective moment for the city’s leadership, as Valencia looked back on a period of influence and prepared for a new chapter of urban management.
The year also represented a shift in how the city operated. After the change in governance, the dismantling of projects advanced by the prior administration began, signaling a comprehensive reevaluation of mobility, cultural practices, economic strategies, citizen safety, and urban planning. Valencia entered a phase of renewal where the city dialed back certain previous initiatives to explore fresh approaches across all facets of municipal life.
PP achieved an absolute majority in the Provincial Assembly and Vox emerged as a notable force. The party’s strong municipal results in Alicante province translated into a provincial majority, securing sixteen deputies with Compromís taking one seat and Vox another, while the PSPV held thirteen. This marked a historic entrance for Vox into the provincial chamber, and Toni Pérez assumed the presidency, taking over from Carlos Mazón. The renewal of deputies stood out, with only a trio returning from the PP, three from the PSPV, and no fewer than three new faces from the PSPV in the legislature, signaling a dynamic shift in provincial leadership and representation.
Cited observations indicate a broader reconfiguration of political alliances across the Valencian Community, reflecting changing voter priorities and the emergence of new political voices in both city and province. Sources tracking the election cycle confirm the patterns described here and underscore the evolving balance of power that characterized the period.