A PSPV Congress to Strengthen Morant Amid Political Uncertainty

Regional PSOE congresses continue, this time in the Valencian Community. The Secretary General and Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, is reshaping the party to his liking. He has already done so in the Canary Islands, Castilla y León, Madrid, and this weekend it's the PSPV's turn. The Minister of Science and Innovation, Diana Morant, will be re-elected as the general secretary of the Valencian socialists, a position she first assumed at the extraordinary congress held in Benicàssim.

Morant's position is quite different a year later. In Benicàssim, the Gandia native took the party's reins during a period of weakness after Ximo Puig lost the Valencian Government following eight years in power. It required significant political manoeuvring to secure an agreement with the general secretaries of Alicante and Valencia, Alejandro Soler and Carlos Fernández Bielsa, to clear the path for the Valencian minister in the Government.

Today, the situation is different. The congress that begins this afternoon, although formally opening on Saturday, will serve to strengthen a strong leadership in the PSPV: that of Diana Morant. The political climate is indeed unstable, both nationally and regionally. Hence, the message of unity that the regional group wants to convey around its general secretary.

Morant will have the freedom to form an executive to her liking, without previous commitments. Alicante's Alejandro Soler will cease to preside over the PSPV and will focus on strengthening his influence in Madrid, where he serves as federal secretary of Municipal Policy. He will not leave the region, as he will remain president of the PSPV in Alicante province. It is assumed that he will be succeeded by the mayor of Elda, Rubén Alfaro, as the general secretary of the Alicante socialists.

Valencian Carlos Fernández-Bielsa will also not continue, currently serving as the deputy general secretary of the PSPV. A newly created position, necessitated by the three-way negotiation that opened at the previous congress. Fernández-Bielsa has already stated upon entering the congress that he intends to compete for the provincial secretary of Valencia.

There, if the national and federal leadership does not prevent it, it seems there will be ballots. Not so in Alicante, where Rubén Alfaro garners consensus between Alejandro Soler and Diana Morant. Also with the always important opinion of the Alicante city socialist group.

But the provincial congresses are still far off. The first step is to consolidate Diana Morant's leadership at the helm of the PSPV and await the call for early regional elections this autumn, or perhaps even general elections before then.