Santa Pola, Calp, Petrer, Crevillent and Almoradi are the only five municipalities in 26 provinces that have populations over 20,000 and elected female mayors in this period. The women acknowledge tougher paths to leadership and balancing family life, yet they stress that capability matters more than gender.
We may appear modest, they say, but women have advanced far in politics and have repeatedly shown they can lead effectively. Loreto Serrano, mayor of Santa Pola, renews her mandate with a simple majority and reflects on her long trajectory. When she first joined the City Council in 1991, she was the lone woman among men, a memory she recalls with clarity.
He notes broad party support at both local and provincial levels, which helped minimize institutional obstacles. The key message is clear: women must participate in decision making. He concedes some family-work balance challenges exist, but those issues are losing significance as younger generations push for shared responsibilities. He adds that his own family duties have evolved as his daughter has become a grandmother and he assists with family care when time allows.
Serrano also expresses opposition to party quotas, arguing that the true measure is individual capacity, regardless of gender. After a difficult period marked by the pandemic, economic hurdles, and storms, his administration has earned recognition. He emphasizes he is judged for his work, not his gender, viewing leadership as a personal accomplishment rather than a gender-based label.
Recent political alignments, including an agreement between the PP and Vox for the Generalitat Government, have sparked controversy given the far-right stance. Yet the concept of domestic violence remains central in the treaty despite discussions. The Santa Pola mayor insists the important thing is to act decisively against the problem, regardless of naming debates.
Lourdes Aznar, appointed mayor of Crevillent, represents a transfer of leadership within the party and underscores that discussions about the agreement are not a priority in the municipal contract. There is clearly a belief that no retreat will occur at the regional level, with the party maintaining a firm stance.
The path into office is described as a combination of prior public service and readiness to serve. The individual recalls being urged to stand for office during a period with limited time before elections and overcoming a setback in which a fibula fracture occurred a few months prior. Still, the outcome favored showing what one can do, rather than how one is categorized.
The central takeaway is that ability matters for anyone seeking a leadership role. There are capable people on all sides, and the emphasis remains on proven competence and the capacity to manage responsibilities. The message is that performance defines leadership, not gender.
It is noted as easier now, with personal circumstances evolving. The speaker explains a professional path that has progressed without major barriers, while acknowledging that children are now grown and offer more time. Freedom to focus on public duties has increased as family commitments shift.
Ana Sala of Calp is acknowledged as a mayor who faced internal party challenges and ultimately secured reelection under the banner of Somos Calpe, following a government agreement with PSPV and Compromís. Her trajectory is cited as an example of perseverance within a changing local landscape.
It is emphasized that personal experience shaped the outcome, and she insists she did not feel neglected for being a woman. Perceptions shifted after a list removal, and she notes that comparisons to public figures can reflect broader political dynamics. She suggests that some attitudes appeared surprising and that she would expect different treatment had she been a man.
The reality remains that women are still a minority in politics, a phenomenon to which she offers a candid assessment. In Calpe, among eight candidates, only one woman led a ticket, suggesting ongoing gender imbalances and indicating that politics may still attract more men.
On the coalition with Vox for the Generalitat, Sala believes the debate about women’s policies touches on terminology more than substance. The sense is that if a deal harmed women, it would not endure in government, and the party would push forward egalitarian policies to safeguard rights for women.
Irene Navarro, the socialist mayor of Petrer, argues strongly against the terms of the right-wing agreement. She emphasizes that turning back decades of progress would be harmful and describes gender-based violence as a pact to be confronted rather than denied. The focus is on advancing rights that cannot be easily compromised.
Navarro reflects on her political rise in a party that promoted inclusive candidacies and zip lists. She acknowledges ongoing challenges and suggests that heavy responsibilities often fall on women, especially when balancing leadership with family life. She notes that political work requires full dedication and that support from the family has been crucial.
María Gómez, Almoradí’s mayor and a former state legislator, confirms her continued leadership with an absolute majority. She remains optimistic about women’s participation in local government and reminds readers that several fellow mayors previously did notable work in other municipalities.
Although women are still in the minority, Gómez suggests the reason is not entirely clear. She notes solid party backing but acknowledges that diving into political life can be difficult. Women may feel they overthink decisions, which can affect representation over time.
On the Generalitat agreement with Vox, Gómez highlights a clear equality policy and a track record of backing anti-violence measures. She believes the agreement will not erode rights and that the PP will continue to actively support egalitarian policies and women’s rights.