The expectation of the possible entry of Ximo Puig into the new Government of Pedro Sánchez had increased in recent days. Several tricks played in his favor. As president of the Generalitat Valenciana, he was the regional baron who most supported Sánchez during the pandemic and in the opening of the dialogue table with Catalonia.
More recently, Ximo Puig, leader of the second socialist federation, unreservedly supported the Amnesty Law and the dialogue with the Catalan independentists. In fact, it was in Valencia where the percentage of militants who voted in favor of that position was highest. There was speculation that he would end up occupying the Public Administration portfolio, given his marked federal character and defender of plural Spain.
None of this has helped, and yesterday there was some disappointment in those around him. Ximo Puig is left out, and for some everything comes down to a “personal” issue, to an alleged lack of trust on the part of Sánchez with the Valencian since the events of the federal committee in which Ximo Puig voted in favor of ousting the man who would later be general secretary of the PSOE. “If it is not for a personal issue it is not understood,” said sources from the party leadership in Valencia.
But it shouldn't be surprising. When Ximo Puig was president of the Generalitat, Pedro Sánchez always maintained a distant attitude towards him, even though he was the president of the most important autonomy in the hands of the PSOE, with the help of Compromís and Unides Podem. In fact, despite his eight years at the head of the Generalitat Valenciana, and constantly demanding better Valencian financing, the forgiveness of the debt and the transfer of the surrounding areas, he never managed to get the Government to respond to any of these demands. .
Ximo Puig, general secretary of the PSPV, senator, deputy in the Corts Valencianes and president of the parliamentary group, is thus left out of the position that could have been an excellent signature for his long political career. The Valencian Diana Morant, on the contrary, not only remains in the Spanish executive but she also takes over Universities.
The former mayor of Gandía, who does maintain an excellent personal relationship with Sánchez, is also reinforced in the PSPV, especially among the young captains of the Valencian federation who, inevitably, will try to question Ximo Puig's leadership in the next congress of the federation, which will be held in the fall of next year.
Now another question that arises is what Ximo Puig will decide to do. Will he continue to maintain all the positions he holds? To what extent can they continue in Les Corts without attending control sessions or key votes like yesterday's on budget amendments? Will he choose to be a Senator only?
Sources from the parliamentary group confirmed to La Vanguardia that this debate, with the composition of the new government already clarified, will have to be debated in the coming days. The decision adopted, these sources add, will partly condition the activity of the PSPV in the institutions.
The former mayor of Gandia gains weight by repeating and becomes the figure – along with the Government delegate, Pilar Bernabé, another rising value in the PSPV – with the most institutional power. There is no immediate translation of this notoriety in organic life, even less in a federation that has written its history, at times, with fratricidal wars, with a large number of political corpses.
It's a risk. Arcadi España, his number two in the party, defended yesterday that “Ximo Puig's greatest objective is to lead Valencian socialism.” Others in the party maintained silence yesterday, a significant and suspicious silence.
