Seeking to become the first woman to preside over the Generalitat Valenciana, Diana Morant, secretary general of PSPV-PSOE and Spain’s Minister of Science, has declared her candidacy in the party primaries. She announced the move in her hometown of Gandia before a large gathering of party members. Morant took over as leader of the Valencian Socialist federation at the party congress on 23 March 2024. Her bid puts her at the center of a contest shaped by opposition to the Partido Popular and right-wing forces.
Morant presented her campaign under the slogan ‘Recuperar lo que importa’, promising a return to core social priorities. Her platform calls for stronger public education, with teachers respected and heard, and a reinforced public healthcare system. Access, she argues, should not depend on a person’s location or financial status. Housing is another basic issue: Morant pledged to make it a right rather than a privilege, particularly for young people struggling with high rents. Her broader public messaging casts the political choice as one between “a country that inspires” and “a country that frightens.”
Her program also pledges support for communities hit by flooding, with transparent and effective reconstruction aid and continued assistance for families still awaiting help. The 29 October 2024 DANA, which caused 233 deaths in the Valencian Community, remains a major issue in regional debate. Morant has said meteorological agencies “were able” to forecast the storm, information from Europa Press. Other measures include better care for older people and stronger support for those with dependency needs. She also wants to address loneliness and expand mental health services. On the economy, she advocates creating quality jobs and offering targeted support to small businesses and local commerce. Her plan also backs new idea across industry and agriculture, aiming to restore the Valencian Community’s appeal for investment.
Morant called for a broad coalition that crosses party lines and brings diverse social groups behind her candidacy. She urged party members to mobilize at every level, from neighborhoods to municipalities, arguing that the outcome will depend on grassroots engagement. Her campaign, she said, is aimed at traditional supporters and people disillusioned with conditions in the region. Addressing national PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo, Morant argued that his political model “does not fit in today’s Spain.”
The announcement comes as PSPV-PSOE steps up preparations for the next electoral cycle, after a period of internal debate and shifting alliances. The move echoes wider trends on Spain’s political left: the PSOE’s basic race in other regions, particularly Madrid, has also prompted impressive internal competition and debate. A recent report on the PSOE’s primary process in Madrid described similar dynamics, including early candidacies and internal contestation.
Morant’s candidacy is expected to shape debate over social rights and the region’s economic future, including the state of public services. The PSPV-PSOE strategy is likely to focus on mobilizing its base and undecided voters, with her leadership bid serving as a rallying point for those seeking change in the Generalitat Valenciana. The basic results will determine the party’s direction and influence the broader political balance in the region as the Socialists seek to regain influence after recent setbacks.
