Manuel del Valle

[2][5] In 1974, Manuel del Valle and a group of young PSOE allies, including Felipe González, won the party's leadership elections, which were held in Suresnes, France, as the Franco dictatorship was still in power.

However, despite the win, Manuel del Valle decided to leave the national Senate and focus on his political career in his home city of Seville.

[2] However, the move backfired and Yáñez and the PSOE lost the 1991 municipal election, which was won by Alejandro Rojas-Marcos of the Andalusian Party (PA).

[3] Many of the urban planning projects begun by del Valle continued to open in the months after he left office in time for Seville Expo '92.

In 1992, the new Madrid–Seville high-speed rail line, connecting Madrid to Seville's new Seville-Santa Justa railway station (opened in 1991) began operations.

Del Valle remained active in a variety of civic, historical, and urban affairs organizations after leaving office.

He chaired the El Monte Foundation and served as a member of the board of trustees for the Alcázar of Seville, the city's royal palace.

[2] He also acted as co-president of the Civic Union of Southern Spain (Unión Cívica del Sur de España), or Civisur, an organization which seeks stronger business and political ties between Seville and Málaga.

[2] Manuel del Valle remained a loyal member of the PSOE, though he also became a critic of the party's leadership in recent years.