Álvaro Sánchez Cotrina, PSOE leader in Cáceres, won the socialist primaries in Extremadura with 58.95% of votes against Soraya Vega's 41.05%, becoming the first federation secretary general from that province. Aged 39 and mayor of Salorino, he succeeds Miguel Ángel Gallardo following his resignation. The process will culminate in a regional congress on April 25 in Mérida.
Álvaro Sánchez Cotrina won the PSOE Extremadura primaries on Saturday, with 100% of votes counted. Of 9,121 militants called to vote, 72.46% participated, giving Sánchez Cotrina 58.95% of votes (around 3,572) against Soraya Vega's 41.05% (around 2,529). He dominated in Cáceres (83.49%), Mérida, and Plasencia, while Vega won narrowly in Badajoz.
The new secretary general, 39, has been mayor of Salorino since 2011, a deputy in the Extremadura Assembly, and PSOE provincial secretary in Cáceres. Holding a law degree from UNED and a diploma in Public Management from the University of Extremadura, he advocated a 'bottom-up' party model after the poor December election results that prompted Miguel Ángel Gallardo's resignation.
"The Socialist Party stops looking at its navel from tonight to speak to society again", Sánchez Cotrina said after the results, setting the goal of regaining the Extremadura Board. He acknowledged leaders like Gallardo and Guillermo Fernández Vara, calling for internal cohesion.
José Luis Quintana, head of the interim board, described the outcome as the start of "a new time" and praised the respectful campaign. The PSOE, in opposition since 2023 after losing to PP's María Guardiola, will renew its bodies at the April 25 congress in Mérida.
