If there is no agreement between at least two of the three possible candidates in the running, the PSPV will face a tough process of internal confrontation to choose the successor of Ximo Puig, who on December 17 announced that he was taking a step back. Therefore, the party is headed for primaries whose result none of the possible candidates have won separately. For this reason, various sources recognized yesterday that Ferraz has taken action on the matter to try to get Diana Morant to face the process with guarantees of success.
The Minister of Science and Universities, also preferred by Ximo Puig, has conveyed her desire to compete to those around her, but has not yet specified it. Facing primaries against two other candidates is not the best scenario for the former mayor of Gandía. A defeat would have a high political cost for one of Pedro Sánchez's ministers. The goal is that if she takes the step, she does so with a good chance of winning the internal battle.
The maneuvers, in which the national leadership of the PSOE intervenes, are now aimed at getting the national deputy and president of the party in Alicante, Alejandro Soler, to agree to ally with Diana Morant. However, Soler has shown a clear willingness to present a candidacy. In fact, last week Ferraz stopped him from presenting it. He has at his side organic power in Alicante and temporary allies such as some of those loyal to José Luís Ábalos. These sources pointed out that Soler was betting on a solution to install bicephaly in the PSPV: him as general secretary and Diana Morant as a candidate in 2027. But it is an idea that is rejected outright. Now it remains to be seen if Ferraz's pressure has an effect or if he finally presents his own candidacy.
There remains a third possible candidate, Carlos Fernández Bielsa, president of the PSPV in the province of Valencia and mayor of Mislata. Last Friday he made his move. He announced the creation of a working group to present his possible candidacy. He is the possible candidate that Ximo Puig's supporters least like, but he has organic power in the province of Valencia and if Morant and Soler do not agree, he could have the resources to put up a fight.
The deadlines to clarify candidacies and votes are short. They will be decided in a few weeks, as the PSPV executive agreed yesterday. The National Committee will be held next Saturday, January 27, pre-candidacies must be presented between January 29 and 30, endorsements between January 31 and February 7 and the primary campaign will take place between January 8 and 23. of February. The first vote will be held on February 25, in the first round, and the second on March 3. Finally, the congress will be held on March 22, 23 and 24, after failures.
