The president of the Spanish government, the socialist Pedro Sánchez, today called on his party to come out “united” in the campaign and highlighted as “more than positive” news the agreement between the leftist groups to go together to the anticipated legislative elections on 23 July, which increases the chances of the ruling party to continue in power after the harsh electoral defeat at the hands of the right.
“For progress to prevail over setback, the first condition is that the PSOE come out united, brave and powerful,” the Spanish leader told his colleagues from the Federal Committee of Socialism who met in Madrid.
Sánchez appealed to the unity of the party after referring to the strong advance of the right in the municipal and regional elections of May 28, in which the Popular Party (PP) was the formation with the most votes, but without reaching an absolute majority, not even before an eventual coalition with Vox (extreme right).
When making a self-criticism for the “strong dispersion” that the leftist vote had, he considered it “more than positive” news that the groups that are more to the left have agreed to go together in the elections.
The union was formalized yesterday after a difficult negotiation led by Sumar, the platform of the Minister of Labor, Yolanda Díaz, who comes from the Communist Party.
About 15 formations located to the left of the socialist PSOE joined Sumar, including Podemos, Sánchez’s current government partner.
“The agreement announced yesterday by different political forces on our left is more than positive news (…) because it avoids uselessly dispersing energy,” Sánchez said, quoted by the AFP news agency.
According to a poll published this week by the newspaper El País, this union of the left could give Sánchez the possibility of continuing to govern in coalition.
“Spain wanted us to shake hands,” Yolanda Díaz highlighted today at a press conference, in which she thanked the left-wing, progressive and environmental political formations now reunited under Sumar.
Negotiations with Podemos, fearful of losing its influence, were, however, difficult until the last moment.
One of the main obstacles was the candidacy for the legislative elections of Irene Montero, Minister of Equality and a member of Podemos.
Montero has received a barrage of criticism in recent months for a law on sexual violence, which she pushed through, which had the unintended effect of reducing the sentences of hundreds of attackers.
In principle, Irene Montero does not appear on the list of Sumar candidates for the legislative elections, but the general secretary of Podemos, Ione Belarra, reiterated today that she wants to continue negotiating in her favor until June 19, the deadline to present the exact composition of The lists.
Source: Ambito
