The repetition of voting in three groups enchants the battle for the leadership of the PSOE in Valencia | Spain
The province of Valencia is the second with more socialist militants throughout Spain, after Seville. Its control, apart from the status that it implies within the PSOE, is vital to ensure domain in the fourth federation with more affiliates after those of Andalusia, Catalonia and Madrid. Carlos Fernández Bielsa, mayor of Mislata since 2011 and provincial leader since 2022, was imposed On Sunday's primaries for only 33 votes Robert Raga, Ribarroja councilor and candidate of the official sector related to Diana Morant, Minister of Science and who has just completed her first year as a general secretary in the Valencian Community. The PSPV-PSOE guarantees committee proclaimed that day provisionally the victory of Bielsa and the referent of the critical sector celebrated it that same day. “Thank you, thanks and thanks. The force of militancy wins the primaries, ”he celebrated on social networks. But after euphoria, the click has arrived.
The National Ethics Commission of the Valencian Socialist Federation has resolved on Wednesday the repetition of the electoral process in the groups of Manuel, Corbera and Llíria after estimating the claims that were presented for alleged irregularities in the process. In addition, he has opened an informative file in the Sedaví group, where the vote could also be repeated.
The temporal suspension of the primary in Valencia, the most relevant right now of the open provincial processes next to those of León, has intensified a very symbolic organic battle. The general secretaries of Castellón and Alicante, Samuel Falomir and Rubén Alfaro, are aligned with Morant and therefore becomes so important what may happen in the province in dispute. « What comes out, well out will be, » said Morant, who defended the « absolute normality » of the internal process after knowing the decision of the National Ethics Commission. The sources consulted of the PSPV assume that Bielsa will resort to the decision to the Federal Guarantees Committee – that is, to Ferraz – that in that case he would have to pronounce. Only then could you set the date to vote again in the affected groups.
Bielsa's candidacy, which for a year has been Deputy Secretary General of the Federation After the agreement sponsored by Ferraz for Morant to be the unique candidate To relieve Ximo Puig – who in his 12 years of territorial leader never controlled at the same time the three Valencian provinces – obtained 3,421 votes, 50% of the total, for the 3,388 support for Raga (49.5%). Participation in the province was 74% of the total census. Being the narrow margin, the repetition of the vote in a few groups could influence the winner.
Sources from the candidacy of Bielsa said they will not « lower their arms in the effort » that the process « fits legality » and will not admit « the dirty game because that would go against socialist principles and values. » In turn, Raga's candidacy demanded in a statement « respect » to the resolution of the resources presented to the « certainty that irregularities have been committed in the scrutiny of several electoral tables. » And it stressed that the challenges have been carried out by the two candidacies, the first one elevated by the Bielsa team « the same Sunday at the Voting Center of Llíria. » In that group, with a census of 82 militants, the urn was closed at noon, according to sources that justify the challenge presented by the agent of Bielsa's candidacy. In the groups of Manuel and Corbera there were claims because the votes accounted for surpassed militants according to sources of the PSPV dome.
The National PSPV Ethics Commission did validate the primaries in Castellón, where Samuel Falomir revalidated with 824 votes (63.98%), for the 450 of Isabel Albalat (34.94%). Participation amounted to 77.26%. In Alicante, Rubén Alfaro happened to Alejandro Soler, national deputy and member of the Federal Directorate since December, without primary schools.
