The mechanism for the succession of Ximo Puig and the renewal in Valencian socialism is already underway. As Puig himself warned: “There is no time to waste.” Thus, two days after announcing that he was “taking one step back” so that the project could take “two steps forward,” the man who was president of the Generalitat Valenciana for two terms in office presented his resignation from his seat in the Corts Valencianes on Monday. .
Hours later, the PSPV executive approved the changes to the organizational chart of the parliamentary group and convened a new executive for the return of Christmas (January 8) with the intention that this, in turn, convene a National Committee to specify the specific date of the extraordinary congress that Puig promised on Saturday during an emotional National Committee.
The Secretary of Organization, José Muñoz, will be the new parliamentary spokesperson and the deputy Toni Gaspar – close to the Secretary General of the province of Valencia, Carlos Fernández Bielsa – is promoted to deputy spokesperson, one of the few surprises that occurred yesterday at the late. A promotion that can be interpreted as a wink towards the provincial leader in order to have a certain organic tranquility. For her part, Rosa Peris, vice-secretary of Equality of the PSPV, retains the honorary position of president of the parliamentary group that until now was held by Puig.
The group’s leadership is thus recomposed to make up for the losses of Ximo Puig himself and two of his trusted people – Rebeca Torró and Arcadi España – who, precisely yesterday, took office as secretaries of state. Torró will be the number two in the Ministry of Industry, and Spain will be the lieutenant of the Minister of Territorial Policy.
In this way, Muñoz takes on the challenge of taking the reins of the party just a few months before the congress – scheduled for February – both as parliamentary spokesperson and as head of Organization. It is already known that the kitchen of the congresses is important for everything to go well and Ximismo now counts on Muñoz so that the succession is as favorable as possible to his interests. Although he is by no means the candidate from Puig’s entourage.
The name of the great favorite that has the endorsement of the federal leadership and that seems to have been assumed by those close to the still general secretary without discussion is that of the Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant. “It is not an imposition, but Pedro Sánchez leads the way,” an important leader of the PSPV pointed out on Saturday.
It will be necessary to see if a single candidacy is achieved, as desired by Ferraz and the national leadership to avoid the internal wars that characterized the PSPV of the late 90s. However, to do so, complicated agreements will have to be reached with the provincial leaders of Alicante (Alejandro Soler) and Valencia (Carlos Fernández Bielsa). The first has already indicated that he could try it and the second is waiting for the congress to be called to make a decision. Of course, the calendar is ticking and the urgency of it works in Morant’s favor.
With Puig increasingly removed from the media spotlight, Muñoz will also be in charge of confronting in the Valencian Chamber with the president of the Generalitat, Carlos Mazón, who this Wednesday will approve his first budgets of the Generalitat Valenciana with the help of Vox, a partner who has proven more than reliable at this beginning of the legislature. And, when the session resumes, he will be the author of the control question to the head of the Consell.
Yesterday, Puig, before presenting his resignation from the seat – he will continue as a territorial senator and this week he will defend in the Upper House the improvement of financing for the Valencian Community -, admitted that it was an “exciting” day for him. After more than 20 years linked – in different stages – to the Valencian Parliament, the socialist leader indicated that the time has come for other generations to continue with their project “of defense of self-government and social justice.”
Regarding whether he will accept the position of OECD ambassador in Paris, Puig slipped: “Paris is well worth a mass.” It increasingly seems that this destiny will be the one the socialist leader leans toward after more than 40 years linked to regional politics.