Ximo Puig’s step aside materialized this Monday in Les Corts Valencianes, where the former president has presented his resignation from his seat, according to Cadena Ser and confirmed by La Vanguardia. In the Valencian parliament, now without the former socialist president, the new ombudsman will be José Muñoz, secretary of Organization of the party. In addition, the PSPV executive, who will meet this afternoon, will propose starting the procedures to convene an Extraordinary Congress for the month of February, after holding a National Committee.
Ximo Puig has confessed to journalists that today is an “exciting” day after more than 20 years linked – in different stages – to the Valencian Parliament but has pointed out that it is time for other generations, “young and strong people to continue carrying out the which has been the project of my life, a project of defense of self-government and social justice”.
The general secretary of the PSPV has confirmed that he will continue to lead the party until the congress is held and did not want to comment on whether or not he will accept the position of OECD ambassador in Paris. He half-jokingly noted that “Paris deserves a mass.” He wanted to make it clear that the capital of France is a great city but that “it is not yet at that stage.”
Regarding the holding of the extraordinary congress, he did highlight that “cohesion is fundamental in the party”, although this does not mean that those who want to be his replacement can do so.
Last Saturday, at the National Committee of the PSPV, Puig took a step back to encourage the renewal of the leadership of the Valencian socialist federation. After almost 12 years at the head of the party, the still general secretary opened the way for a new leadership to take charge of a party that has established itself as the hegemonic force of the Valencian left.
Now a process begins in which those who want to lead the PSPV must be defined and which will include the holding of primaries. The PSOE leadership is betting on the current Minister of Science and Universities, Diana Morant; although there are other candidates who have shown their predisposition such as the mayor of Mislata and secretary of the party in the province of Valenci, Carlos Fernández Bielda, or the provincial secretary of Alicante, Alejandro Soler.
The previous spokesperson, Rebeca Torró, took over as Secretary of State for Industry a few days ago. Her deputy spokesperson, Arcadi España, is also in Madrid as he is the new Secretary of State for Territorial Policy.
Muñoz was the name in all the pools to take the reins of a very inexperienced group in Les Corts, and who will now be in charge of confronting President Carlos Mazón from his seat.