Sánchez asked Ábalos for help to ensure Morant's leadership of the Valencian socialists

ValenciaSpanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez asked his former right-hand man in the party, José Luis Ábalos, for help in ensuring that the Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant, was elected leader of the Valencian Socialists. This is revealed in WhatsApp messages exchanged between the head of the national government and the former PSOE organizational secretary during January 2024, when Morant, the mayor of Mislata, Carlos Fernández Bielsa, and the deputy Alejandro Soler were vying for the leadership of the PSPV (Valencian Socialist Party). A conversation that has revealed the digital newspaper Vozpópuli and which occurred weeks before the Valencian politician was suspended from party membership and placed in the mixed group in Congress due to the disruption of the Koldo case

"Hi, José Luis, I didn't know you were going to support Alejandro Soler," Sánchez complains in the message that opens the dialogue on January 26, 2024. "I have little left to help with, and people have divided up the resources. But he gives his opinion on everything I can report and everything I can comment on, referring to the then-organizational secretary, Santos Cerdán."

Sánchez then tells him that supporting Soler is "a mistake," and that he should support someone who "speculates" that he won't last "until 2027," referring to alleged statements by the Elche leader that Ábalos claims to be unaware of. "He has always been willing to support Diana" as a candidate for president of the Generalitat, adds the former Minister of Transport, who at another point indicates that he will see "how he can help." After this message, Sánchez tells him that this "is for the best." "José Luis, you know I value you as a friend. But beyond that, politically we have to be united," adds the president. "I've always been united in that regard, but you should know that no one has asked me for any help," replies the former organizational secretary. It is then that Sánchez makes his direct request for help. "OK, well, I'll ask you for it," says the Socialist leader. In the message, Ábalos responds with a "Heh, heh, heh" and a smiling face emoji. "Well, that's it," concludes the Spanish president.

Finally, the leaders of the PSPV in the provinces of Valencia and Alicante, Carlos Fernández Bielsa and Alejandro Soler, joined the candidacy of the Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant, who was the only candidate for the position of general secretary of the Valencian socialists.