In the PSPV some have been working in the shadows for Ximo Puig's succession for years. The defeat of 28-M, despite the growth in votes and seats, has put an end to a reign of 11 years - eight as president of the Generalitat Valenciana - and the succession has already begun.
From some sectors of the province of Valencia and Alicante, they have been forging alliances with local groups for years to gain muscle in the event of a possible battle. However, the presumed candidacy of Minister Diana Morant, endorsed by the federal leadership, has blown up the board and the organic work of these years ago.
The PSOE does not want the succession in the party's second federation to become a new battle for power and has pulled the strings to try to put on the table a candidacy that can generate a certain consensus. Diana Morant's option is well regarded by Ximo Puig's entourage, who have quickly made it their own in an attempt to maintain the stability of this long decade.
"It will not be easy to stand up to a minister of Pedro Sánchez," highlights a senior leader close to Puig, who still remembers how the President of the Government deals with those who dared to stand up to him organically in the past.
For this reason, the mere possibility of the minister taking the step - her entourage confirms to La Vanguardia that "she really wants to" - has made the rest of the hypothetical candidates remain silent. In the PSPV they believe that the general secretary of the PSPV in Alicante, Alejandro Soler, who before the National Committee said he was willing to assume more responsibility, will be easy to convince.
Soler has maintained his status precisely because he is a person close to the head of the Federal Organization, Santos Cerdán, who this weekend called for "unity" and "generosity" after remembering that after losing the Generalitat in 1995, the socialists took 20 years to return. to the Consell. Next to Soler is now the group that has remained close to former minister José Luis Ábalos. It does not seem that, after being pardoned by Pedro Sánchez in the last electoral lists for the general elections, the deputy is going to take any risks.
In fact, PSPV sources point out that Ximists and supporters of Soler are looking for formulas for an agreement that will pave the way for Morant's arrival and deactivate possible alternatives. In Ferraz they believe that an entire minister who has just been renewed by the President of the Government cannot be thrown into the mud of a primary. Along these lines, they recall from the management of the Valencian federation, "after losing the majority of autonomies, now Pedro Sánchez's power is even greater."
The only doubt is knowing what the mayor of Mislata and general secretary of the PSPV in the province of Valencia, Carlos Fernández Bielsa, will do, who has been waiting for this moment for a long time. Some of his mayors seem to be pushing him to take the step, but for now he wants to wait for the congress to be convened. The executive will not be held until January 8, which, in turn, must be convened by the National Committee where the date for the extraordinary conclave will be set.
Sources from the PSPV point out that this congress is not a congress like those of before where the different candidates sought to count each other and then distribute the cake depending on their internal support. Now, they indicate, "if someone stands up to Sánchez, his future in the party could be greatly harmed." Therefore, Bielsa must carefully measure whether there is water in the pool before jumping in.
