The initiative, signed by the seven PP councilors, Vox representative Rosario Pilar Griñán, and independent councilor José Antonio Illán, received the support of the two UCIN councilors, totaling eleven votes in favor. The five PSPV councilors and the single IU-UP councilor voted against. The council is composed of 17 members.
During the plenary session, after verifying the attendance of all 17 members, the age-based committee was formed with the oldest councilor, José Ginés Pelegrín (PSPV), as president, and the youngest, María Redondo (PP), as secretary. Following the debate and vote on the no-confidence motion, Franco was sworn into office.
The no-confidence motion arises in a political context marked by the departure of UCIN's three councilors from the tripartite government in March, due to an "infringement of the alternation in the Mayor's office." Illán later left UCIN to become an independent. The five PSPV councilors and the single IU-UP councilor have governed in minority in recent months.
Amparo Serrano became mayor in September 2024, following the resignation of the previous PP mayor, Manuel Martínez Sirvent. At that time, socialists, UCIN, and IU-UP reached an agreement that later broke down.
Franco argued that the motion "does not stem from personal confrontation" but from the "conviction" that the municipality "needs to regain its direction, stability, and the capacity to look to the future." He lamented the "uncertainty" and "political fragility" of the previous government, which he stated had affected the residents.
The new mayor affirmed his "commitment" to "address the most urgent problems" and "build a vision for the future" through "collaboration with all administrations" and "without sectarianism".
Vox representative Griñán called for "quality public service" and justified support for the motion based on the "general interest," aiming for "a cleaner, safer city and improved management".
UCIN spokesperson Francisco Javier Pérez justified the support as a "vote of confidence" in the new mayor, although the proponents' numbers already provided the necessary majority.
“"The motion that has made 'popular' Franco the mayor has been supported by groups that have not hesitated to resort to the unethical figure of political turncoatism."
The former socialist mayor accused the motion's signatories of having previously held "positions of responsibility" and leaving the "municipal coffers in a lamentable state," while highlighting the current "viable" economic situation.
Serrano denied "paralysis" in the City Council and expressed her "immense honor and privilege" in holding the office, stating she will continue working for the municipality from the opposition.
Ángel García, from IU-UP, criticized the motion for lacking concrete "facts" and "data," and argued that "structural problems" are not solely the result of the current government.
Independent councilor Illán defended the motion as "fully democratic" and alluded to the disagreements that led to the breakdown of the government pact. He accused Pérez (UCIN) of launching a social media campaign against him.
Illán stated that "if the pact had not been broken, there probably wouldn't have been turncoatism," adding: "Perhaps some prefer to talk to a turncoat than to someone who has been convicted of prohibited negotiations."
