Mónica Oltra announces her return to politics to contest the mayoralty of Valencia

BarcelonaThe former Valencian vice-president Mónica Oltra (Compromís) takes a step forward and returns to politics. Oltra resigned from all her positions in 2022 following the legal case against her for alleged cover-up of sexual abuse committed by her ex-husband, but now, one year before the municipal elections, the former leader of Compromís wants to be the candidate for mayor of Valencia. Oltra made her decision public at the congress of Iniciativa-Compromís held this Saturday. "It is time to break the darkness. I accept the challenge," she said, picking up the gauntlet from the proposal made to her by Iniciativa de Valencia at its last congress to be a candidate in the 2027 elections.

The announcement was met with applause from the membership, who gave her a standing ovation when she entered the congress at La Petxina in Valencia. Despite being out of the spotlight, the possibility of the former vice-president and former equality minister returning to the political arena had been on the table for days. As published by ARA, Oltra was considering leading a candidacy that would go beyond Compromís, in the context of the reformulation of alliances in the space to the left of the PSOE. All of this coincides with the ups and downs the coalition has had to face with its split in Congress, with the move of Àgueda Micó —from the Més party— to the mixed group.

One step away from trial

Oltra's decision coincides with that of the Provincial Court of Valencia to put her on trial, against the opinion of the investigating judge –who requested the case be dismissed–, for the alleged cover-up of sexual abuse against a minor in care committed by Luis Eduardo Ramírez, ex-husband of the Compromís leader, who was convicted for these acts. The Prosecutor's Office also opposed continuing with a case that, from Compromís, they have described as lawfare. Since leaving politics, Oltra returned to her work as a lawyer and mediator.

In Catalonia, Comuns have celebrated Oltra's announcement and have predicted that she will be a "great mayor" of Valencia, which is currently governed by the PP, with María José Catalá as mayor. "She is a great leader of our political space. We have shared many battles with her and also suffered this

lawfare", emphasized the coordinator of Comuns, Candela López, in statements to the media. The news has also been celebrated by other members of the Sumar space, such as Més Madrid. "We have missed you," wrote the Minister of Health, Mónica García, in a message on X.

If her candidacy is ratified, Oltra will also compete with the socialist candidate for mayor, Pilar Bernabé, current delegate of the Spanish government in the Valencian Country.