The situation of the PSOE of Cádiz has been compared to the political intrigue of series like Game of Thrones or Succession, due to the constant betrayals, changes of allegiance, and internal disputes that have marked the party's trajectory in the province. Even the former president of the Junta de Andalucía, José Antonio Griñán, once described the socialist territory of Cádiz as «Cádiz Herzegovina».
The latest manifestation of this division occurred last Friday at the Parador Atlántico de Cádiz, during the preparation of the provincial lists for the Andalusian elections. Socialist sources described the day as «chaotic», marked by tense meetings and negotiations that culminated in a setback for María Jesús Montero, who failed to impose her candidate, Fernando López Gil, as the lead candidate.
“"When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground."
A surprising event was the return of Irene García, former president of the Diputación Provincial de Cádiz and number one on the 2022 lists, who joined as number four at the last minute. García had previously expressed her intention to leave active politics due to her disagreements with Juan Carlos Ruiz Boix, the party's provincial secretary general, but is now poised to return to the Parliament of Andalusia.
Nervousness was palpable among the socialists of Cádiz, divided into two almost equal factions: supporters and critics of Ruiz Boix. This polarization had already been evident in the 2025 primaries, where the current secretary general won by a very narrow margin. Initially, the PSOE-A list committee proposed Fernando López Gil as the lead candidate, relegating Juan Cornejo, an ally of Ruiz Boix, to third place. Cornejo rejected this decision, threatening to resign if he did not take the first position, which led María Jesús Montero to concede after several hours of negotiations, allowing Cornejo to regain the top spot on the list.
No one was happy.
The relationship between Juan Cornejo and María Jesús Montero appears strained, according to various sources, who point to the discomfort of the Asidonense leader with the secretary general of the PSOE-A. This coolness was evident during an event presenting Montero's health policies, where a distant interaction between the two was observed. The PSOE of Cádiz faces the upcoming elections on May 17 with deep internal divisions, having accumulated four consecutive defeats against the Partido Popular in the 2022, 2023, and 2024 elections, an unfavorable scenario for Ruiz Boix, who seeks to reverse the trend.
