Mónica Oltra, former vice president of the Generalitat, announced on Saturday at Iniciativa's congress her candidacy for Compromís to the Valencia mayoralty in the 2027 elections. She returns to frontline politics four years after resigning, despite a court opening trial against her for alleged cover-up of sexual abuses.
Mónica Oltra reappeared on Saturday at the VII Congress of Iniciativa del Poble Valencià, one of Compromís's formations, in Valencia, where she accepted the coalition's nomination for the mayoralty in the May 2027 municipal elections. "Life and love win. Yes, I accept the challenge," she said to an audience that cheered her with cries of "mayor, mayor".
The proposal came from deputy Alberto Ibáñez, outgoing co-spokesperson of Iniciativa: "We want you to be Valencia's next mayor". Oltra, who resigned on June 21, 2022, as vice president and equality counselor after being charged, replied: "Thank you for pulling me out of these four years' refuge. I come from a very long silence".
Her announcement comes weeks after Valencia's Investigating Court No. 15 opened trial on March 5 against her and 12 collaborators for alleged cover-up of sexual abuses on a minor by her ex-husband between 2016 and 2017. The ex-husband was sentenced to five years in prison. The judicial decision was ordered by the Valencia Audience, against the prosecution's and investigating judge's criteria.
Oltra denounced "judicial persecution" and the rise of "fascism": "Every day of silence means the bad guys win". She called to ban excessive wealth: "Why should one person have more than five million, five houses or five cars if they only have one ass?". She wore a t-shirt with an Angela Davis quote.
Compromís sees her candidacy as a boost against current PP mayor María José Catalá and socialist Pilar Bernabé. Compromís spokesperson Joan Baldoví confirmed prior contacts. Reactions include left-wing support and PP criticism labeling her "accused".
