The cascade of judicial investigations surrounding the PSOE puts the legislature and the future of the Government at risk, with the partners increasingly distanced from the PSOE. Although, for now, no one is taking the step to break away, with each new piece of information — the latest being the indictment this very morning of Santos Cerdán, the PSOE manager, former leader Gaspar Zarrías, and former member Leire Díez for a “plot to destabilize” judicial processes against the party — the groups that make up the investiture majority raise concerns and increase doubts about the course of the legislature.
Read more Who is who in the investigation of a plot to torpedo judicial cases
The entry of the UCO early in the day into the PSOE headquarters on Ferraz Street in Madrid has shaken the government control session in Congress. With hardly any information at that time, the ERC spokesperson in the lower house, Gabriel Rufián, pointed out that this action is a “terrible anomaly” and again marked irregular financing as a red line. “If there were proof, we would call for elections,” he assured. The Catalan argued that if it is “proven” that there is illegal financing in the party, they will ask “for the people to decide what should happen with the PSOE.”
“There are former presidents of the Government who enrich themselves and do business. Both sides,” exploded Vice President Yolanda Díaz from her seat after the statements of the PP’s number two, Miguel Tellado, in his question and after assuring that she “does not like at all” what she is seeing. Also in Sumar, a minority partner in the Government, Enrique Santiago again set irregular financing of the socialists as a limit to continue in the Executive. “We are facing a very clear operation to destabilize the Government, very organized on three fronts,” Santiago also denounced on TVE, referring to the “political apparatus of the right,” a “minority” of the judiciary, and the United States Embassy in Madrid, which, he claims, has intentionally provided information about the case affecting Zapatero. “Last week it was giving instructions to Mr. Abascal, Mr. Feijóo, and the head of the Popular Party in Madrid, Mrs. Ayuso. They have all been there. They will have to explain what they have done,” he demanded.
Within the ranks of Sumar, they could not hide their discomfort with the PSOE on Wednesday over the way it is managing the crisis. Some coalition spokespersons question the absence of an authorized voice from the Government providing explanations, also about the bailout of the company Plus Ultra in 2021, the investigation that has led to the indictment of former president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero for alleged influence peddling.
The PNV, which called for an early election over the weekend, has attacked the PP in the Senate and challenged it to present a motion of no confidence, which, in any case, they do not support for now. “If you consider that the circumstances exist to present it, do it now, and do it where you have to, in the Congress of Deputies. The rest are nonsense, they are rubbish, it is to entertain and make noise,” reproached the senator of the Basque party Estefanía Beltrán de Heredia referring to the motion in which the PP asked the Government for an early election.
From Junts, Miriam Nogueras also denied that there are contacts with the PNV to support a possible motion of no confidence and confessed that from her party this possibility “is not on the table.” The spokesperson in Congress proposed on Antena 3 that the president present a vote of confidence. Sources from the group reproach Pedro Sánchez for “waiting for others to decide for him.”
Meanwhile, EH Bildu deputy Oskar Matute opted for caution. “Let’s see what they find, let them investigate,” he said about the actions in Ferraz. With her usual critical tone against the Government, Podemos leader Ione Belarra stated that Sánchez’s firm defense of Zapatero this Wednesday from Rome, where he met with Pope Leo XIV before his visit to Spain starting June 6, “is not understood.” “We have very serious suspicions of corruption,” added the deputy. Regarding the president’s intention to complete the legislature, Belarra said in the corridors of the lower house that “in politics you don’t do what you want, but what you can.” Although she continues to keep her distance regarding possible support for a motion of no confidence or a vote of confidence, the secretary general insisted that the Government’s situation seems “absolutely unsustainable” to her, as she has been repeating since the Plus Ultra case file came to light.
Read more PNV and Junts abstain in a PP motion in the Senate to ask the Government to call elections
