The two potential successors to lead the PSPV-PSOE after the departure of Minister of Science and Universities Ximo Puig exchanged polite remarks about the new year and the weather. What began as a brief, routine exchange between the two candidates, Diana Morant and Alejandro Soler, unfolded amid the backdrop of the Euipo 2024 welcome event held yesterday. Among the pool of contenders to guide Valencia’s socialist movement, Morant and Soler kept their interaction succinct, each choosing not to dominate the scene or overstep the moment. The gathering proceeded with a slightly delayed start as the Generalitat president Carlos Mazón finished his commitments before joining the proceedings.
The Consell president carried a packed itinerary through Alicante on Friday. He attended the opening of a new delegation for the College of Physiotherapists and visited the demonstration site for digital enabling technologies of the Federation of Metal Entrepreneurs, known as Fempa, before making his way to Euipo. After delivering his remarks, he headed to Valencia where a PPCV board meeting awaited in Alzira later in the afternoon. Back at the European Union office, the most notable development occurred in his absence, with the focus turning to the ongoing regeneration process within the PSPV.
In a quick moment after the year’s greetings and a small talk about the heat returning, Morant and Soler stepped aside to find a private corner. The turnout was notable, reflecting the strength of the party’s cohesion as the day unfolded. The municipal representation from Alicante City Council was not fully present, with Miguel Millana being the closest participant, having left the council just months earlier. Neither Ana Barceló nor any of her seven colleagues showed up at the event.
The minister was seen accompanied by several Alicante MPs in attendance, while Soler was not among them. Araceli Poblador and Patricia Blanquer appeared prominently in most photographs. Also present was Pilar Bernabé, the Valencian Community Government delegate who had been considered a potential candidate for PSPV leadership in the first cohort, though her prospects in this race had diminished by that moment. The evolving dynamics were clear, and the scene continued to shift in real time.
Meanwhile Mazón announced the creation of a support office designed to help companies participate in activities within the Valencian Community. He was accompanied by Bernabé, the government’s newly appointed sub-delegate, while Juan Antonio Nieves began his post that week and prepared to start officially the following Monday. Nieves made an impression by sharing his contact details with attendees, signaling a proactive approach to stakeholder engagement. Yet Soler remained a central figure throughout the event, particularly as he steered strategizing discussions toward the position that some labeled as the influence of the “ximista” faction, represented by Carlos Sánchez. The state leader appeared on stage with two influential supporters from Elche, councilman and state vice president Francis Rubio and district deputy Ramón Abad. Other lawmakers, including Yaissel Sánchez and José Díaz, were observed in clusters around the Cortes.
Early arrivals at the Agua Amarga site included Morant, who greeted the host, João Negrão, Euipo’s new general manager, and Luis Barcala, the Alicante mayor, who used the opportunity to introduce Manuel to the gathering. Council members Villar, Rocío Gómez, Julio Calero, and Nayma Beldjilali were present, while the minister exchanged impressions with GNA representatives and observers from the University of Alicante, including rector Amparo Navarro. Rencontre attendees also included Avecal president Marián Cano and other academics, who discussed innovations in the footwear industry.
The business community was well represented as well. After the Fempa meeting, Salvador Navarro, president of CEV, arrived alongside César Quintanilla of Uepal and Carlos Baño from the Alicante Chamber of Commerce. Mazón’s arrival drew attention, and the Generalitat leader initially commented on the unfolding year, joking that the nativity scene might still be on display for those who hadn’t removed it yet. Barcala noted the moment with a light touch, and Mazón extended a warm greeting to Morant before the tone of conversations began to shift and accusations surfaced. The Consell head challenged the administration’s Catalonia policy, while the minister criticized Valencian Government cuts in innovation.
As the day progressed, Nuria Montes and Toni Pérez – both part of the Consell Valencia de Turisme – arrived later for a session held in Benidorm. By then the Euipo events were in full swing, and the evening program was already underway.