Dispute Between PP and PSOE in San Vicente Over Pedro Sánchez's WhatsApp Messages

The controversy surrounding the messages between Pedro Sánchez and Ábalos has also reached Alicante. The continuous leaks of WhatsApp exchanges between the Prime Minister and the former Minister of Transport have dominated national headlines and television, reviving old conflicts in the municipality of San Vicente.

In the municipality of l'Alacantí, the local PP has seized the opportunity to attack the opposition. They have done so through social media, with a mocking message simulating a conversation between Pedro Sánchez and the leader of the socialists in San Vicente, Asun Paris.

With this setup, the Popular Party aimed to bring to light the controversy that occurred in the local PSOE in 2021, when a parallel WhatsApp group was created by several councillors of the then socialist local government, criticising Jesús Villar, the mayor of San Vicente, which eventually fractured the group and led to departures from the executive. Later, the controversy resurfaced when the mayor's wife insulted several members through another group of the party.

The PP has used the controversy of the leaks between Sánchez and Ábalos to criticise the PSOE. On their social media, the PP sends the message "from San Vicente to Moncloa" and jokingly claims that "it seems that the WhatsApp issues are not exclusive to the PSOE of San Vicente and now transcend to the national level."

The publication continues, with the PP questioning "whether Pedro Sánchez has turned to his San Vicente acolytes, as they are experts in WhatsApp." The setup shows Pedro Sánchez writing to Asun Paris, asking her "have you seen the fuss with the WhatsApps?" followed by another message saying "you'll have to tell me how you resolved it in San Vicente."

The joke doesn't end there, as the socialist responds in the setup: "Oh Pedro... this is easily solved, we must act like great democrats, which is what we socialists are... GET RID OF THEM ALL!!"

This publication has not been well received by the PSOE of San Vicente, who have labelled it a "bad taste joke" and are demanding a public apology. The municipal socialist group condemns the PP's setup for "making a bad taste joke with the aim of discrediting and attacking the general secretary and spokesperson of the PSOE, Asun Paris."

The socialists have stated that this publication "would have been more typical of the far-right Vox than the PP" and indicate that "it is a gratuitous attack and an attempt to mock the progressive councillor."

"The Popular Party is adopting the ways of their ultra partner. This publication does not help achieve good political coexistence in a society tired of polarisation and constant attacks between different parties. Furthermore, we reject the setup aimed at damaging the personal and political image of our spokesperson in the Town Hall and General Secretary, so we expect and request an immediate public apology," the PSOE of San Vicente defends.