Valencian Community politics shift as left reinforces its position
The electoral journey produced an unexpected winner in the Valencian Community, with Pedro Sánchez stepping in to extend government oversight through a renewed delegation in Alicante, while Pilar Bernabé was named the government delegate for the Community of Valencia. The left now holds a resilient institutional stronghold, countering a right that had briefly managed the region after a recent self-government. This move was announced by Ximo Puig, the general secretary of the PSPV, during a Monday afternoon briefing.
Within a broader national executive framework, the region faced a setback for Alicante, which lost its regional senator once more. The PSPV proposal, to pass through the Valencian Parliament, suggested Puig himself and the former head of Labora, Rocio Briones, for key roles. Anger rippled through Alicante’s PSOE circles, with some colleagues voicing strong discontent and describing the situation as a blunt setback.
Puig elevates Pilar Bernabé to second place on the PSPV leadership
In conversations after the meeting, silence gave way to candid critique. One observer remarked that Alicante’s representatives no longer seem to carry weight, regardless of background, whether from industry or other sectors. A respected socialist figure from Alicante underscored that Puig’s approach took some by surprise, even as he positions himself for the upcoming party congress and contemplates the trajectory in Alicante politics.
Tensions rose as March preparations framed the political mood. For Valencia Cortes and the state apparatus, Puig included four independents and allied closely with the state secretary, yet some names slid into seventh place. The attempt to adjust the state leadership for the upcoming electoral cycle drew mixed reactions, though Ferraz ultimately supported the Soler plan.
From these starting points, most Alicante socialists voiced a feeling of humiliation, a sentiment that had not surfaced with such intensity in recent times. Some insiders explained that Puig had offered a near-miss pretext a little over a year earlier. In the Senate, a reshuffle moved Gloria Calero to a new role, and the Alicante camp felt the reward did not match the allegiance shown. While the execution did not carry formal charges, the discontent remained visible, with veterans noting that balance had been maintained for a long time, but the current moment tests that balance.
It also seemed odd that none of the regional leaders who could fill top executive roles came from Alicante. The deputy secretary general post stayed vacant after Manolo Mata left the political arena to pursue a legal career and take on high-profile defense work in a notable case. Bernabé’s promotion placed her on the same executive level as spokesperson Ana Domínguez, who had been named deputy general secretary at the last congress. Artemi Rallo took on the role of Minister for Rights and Freedoms, while Lara Romero became Minister of Sports.
With Bernabé’s ascent, her influence grew precisely as the PSPV faced a delicate period: losing the Generalitat Government and preparing for a midterm congress that would decide whether Puig would seek re-election or yield to another leader. The leadership positions and potential successors crystallized around Bernabé as a stabilizing figure, even as the party navigates a fragmented field and internal succession questions. The sense of continuity for the Valencian left lent Bernabé a prominent place in shaping the party’s direction.
Bernabé hails from a socialist family, with a sibling who also held a state delegation role under a different era and leader. Her past as a Valencia councilor connected her with the party’s seasoned networks, including the generation that formed the party’s core in the regional capital. This lineage anchored her as a reliable pillar for the current leadership and a potential foundational figure for future plans.
Her position received further reinforcement as the Socialists lost the presidency of the Valencian Provincial Council, a post sought by Carlos Fernández Bielsa, the provincial head and mayor of Mislata, a notable player on the board of PSPV’s future prospects.
Pedro Sánchez signals a stable extension for Ximo Puig
Puig can expect a calmer summer as the party leadership readies for a new cycle of congresses and potential motions. The electoral outcome reshapes the internal dynamics of Valencian socialism, guiding a shift from intra-party pressure to a more contemplative period. In this calmer climate, Puig gains space to reflect on the road ahead, balancing the need for internal cohesion with the broader goal of maintaining plausible governance. Any move perceived as destabilizing could meet resistance from the party base and the federal leadership in Ferraz, reducing the likelihood of dramatic shifts in the near term.
Return to bipartisanship: the idea of a useful vote strengthens both major parties
With Sunday’s outcomes, the national congress of the Socialists remains scheduled later, and re-election scenarios could influence the timing of extraordinary PSPV conventions. If Sánchez secures a managerial arrangement, the party could extend its horizon, potentially delaying the regular congress into 2025. The political calculus now centers on how far the left and its allies can consolidate a stable governance posture while preparing for an evolving national landscape.