Compromís Faces Internal Struggles Over Leadership in L'Alacantí Region

Disagreements between Més Compromís (formerly Bloc) and Iniciativa in recent weeks, with the threat of leaving Sumar by the more Valencianist faction within the coalition, are also reflected in the L'Alacantí region.

In Alicante province, the latest point of contention has been the selection of a new regional secretary in this area. Agreements within the coalition are always complex, as they must accommodate the three perspectives of the three parties (Més, Iniciativa, and Els Verds), often leading to controlled disruptions.

This time, the change in regional leadership has prompted the party to raise internal tensions once again. Més has maneuvered to propose a single candidate, the former spokesperson of the municipal group in Alicante City Council, Natxo Bellido. In fact, this Wednesday, June 18, a Més assembly is convened to ratify him as the sole option. The hurried call, amidst the Hogueras festival, aims to demonstrate unity and silence dissenting voices.

However, it is preceded by other movements, such as a regional executive of Més —of which Bellido is secretary— that confirmed his candidacy and invalidated other proposals within the party. Another candidacy was viewed favorably by some party members in the region, especially in the capital, who seek renewal in positions and new faces for leadership roles.

Sources close to the situation claim that if Bellido's ratification is achieved and elevated to the regional level, the coalition would find itself between a rock and a hard place in L'Alacantí: either they choose the option proposed by Més or the selection of the executive that will lead the coalition towards the 2027 municipal elections is stalled.

Traditionally, the Bloc held majority control in L'Alacantí municipalities, but the situation has become more diverse in recent years. In fact, the local group in the capital has more Iniciativa members, led by the current City Council spokesperson, Rafa Mas.

Therefore, sources close to the coalition assert that Més is trying to prevent the selection from depending on a general assembly of Compromís L'Alacantí, as has been the case in recent years. This body usually voted for a leadership that emerged from consensus among the formations (Més, Iniciativa, and Verds). However, the regional assembly is not regulated due to the lack of common statutes for the coalition, so there is no established election system.

From sectors closer to Iniciativa, it is argued that this decision, regarding the regional secretary, should involve the voice of the membership, convened in a regional assembly. They criticize that Bellido's actions are an attempt to hide and "twist negotiations."

Conversely, sectors close to the former Alicante councillor insist that Més's stance will be decided this Wednesday in a party assembly, so it will be the membership of the formation that chooses the proposal for the regional secretary. In fact, they explain that this decision is part of the negotiation strategy with other parties and is not set in stone.

The conflict once again highlights the disagreements between parties within Compromís. Before the threat of a split with Sumar, negotiations to provide the coalition with a more stable organizational structure, such as a federation with established bodies and statutes, were quite advanced. However, the conflict has stalled the process due to a lack of trust between the two main formations (Iniciativa and Més).

This conflict arises at a time of great political uncertainty in the Valencian Community, where parties within the coalition are looking to position themselves ahead of negotiations in case elections are called.