Pilar Bernabé is now officially the PSPV-PSOE candidate for mayor of Valencia, ending weeks of speculation. The party announced her candidacy at its Valencia headquarters, setting up a direct contest with the current city government ahead of the upcoming municipal elections.
Diana Morant, the party leader and Spain’s Minister of Science, described the election as a fight for the city’s future. She said the PSPV-PSOE is ready to govern and criticized Generalitat president Juafran Pérez Llorca, claiming he is running out of time and support. Morant questioned whether he would seek re-election and hinted that his leadership of the PPCV could soon end.
Information from Spain's National Statistics Institute, Valencia's population has grown by over 30,000 residents in the past five years, sharpening debates over housing and urban policy.
Bernabé, currently the Government Delegate in the Comunidad Valenciana and a member of the PSOE’s national leadership, is making the case on the strength of her crisis management experience and profile in the city. Her handling of the October 2024 dana, which left 17 people dead and entire neighborhoods flooded, won recognition from party members and residents. She has promised that, if elected, her first steps will include official recognition for the families of those affected and immediate enforcement of Spain’s national housing law to address Valencia’s rising property prices.
Her platform calls for tighter rules on tourist apartments in residential areas and a tourist tax to control tourism. Her climate plan promises that every resident will see three trees from their window; each neighborhood will have 30% green space, and every home will be within 300 meters of a green area. Bernabé has called the current administration’s heatwave response, including awnings in public squares, inadequate. “Valencia needs trees, not two awnings,” she said.
Bernabé has also said she will avoid personal attacks during her campaign, pointing to a recent incident in which Isabel Díaz Ayuso called Pedro Sánchez an “hijo de puta” and later claimed she had said “me gusta la fruta.” Bernabé says she will focus on policy and results, not insults.
The Spanish government recently allocated over €50 million for climate ability to recover projects in Valencia, including flood prevention and urban greening, as reported by El País. The investments form part of a broader national strategy to address the growing frequency of extreme weather events in the region.
The PSPV-PSOE has named candidates in the region’s largest cities: Trini Amorós in Alicante, Rafa Simó in Castellón and Héctor Díez in Elche. They join Bernabé on the ticket. Morant said the party’s readiness sends a clear message to voters in cities where the socialists are not in power, positioning the PSPV-PSOE as an alternative to what it calls a “negationist” and disconnected local government.
Bernabé faces strong opponents. María José Catalá of the PP has not commented on her candidacy, but urged her to keep working as Government Delegate until the end. Mònica Oltra, former vice president of the Generalitat, is working to build a broader left-wing coalition and is also expected to run. Vicente Barrera, a former bullfighter, is rumored to be Vox’s likely candidate, though this is unconfirmed.
Bernabé says she will remain Government Delegate as long as possible, arguing that the Spanish government’s investments and emergency responses matter for Valencia. She pointed to the UME’s recent work during the Saler wildfire, as well as projects such as the Mediterranean rail corridor and new green infrastructure in the city’s southern districts, as evidence of the central government’s role.
The PSPV-PSOE still faces skepticism in some neighborhoods. Morant rejects claims that residents are turning away from the party, saying that in difficult times, voters know where to find progressive values. The party is trying to recover ground lost in previous elections and counter the idea that it is in decline.
As the campaign heats up, the race for Valencia’s city hall is shaping up as a test of political credibility and practical solutions. The winner will take charge of a city facing housing shortages and climate challenges, alongside the aftermath of recent disasters. The result will set Valencia’s direction and could influence politics across the Comunidad Valenciana.
