“We are in shock,” admitted numerous PSOE leaders after, on Wednesday evening, Pedro Sánchez posted on his social networks the letter to the citizens in which he announced that he was considering resigning as President of the Government in the face of the “operation of harassment and demolition” deployed by the right against his wife, Begoña Gómez.
The surprising announcement, totally unexpected and which only Minister Félix Bolaños had news of shortly before its broadcast, left everyone in the Moncloa, the Government and the PSOE dumbfounded. Sánchez wrote the letter directly, without consulting anyone from his hard core, suspended his public agenda, retired to his residence and demanded that his team leave him alone to reflect on the final decision in the privacy of his family, which he will communicate next year. Monday.
In the absence of Sánchez, and despite the custom that not a blade of grass moves either in the Executive or in the party without his consent, on the night of that same Wednesday his closest collaborators met at the Moncloa to digest the news and analyze the unexpected situation.
Among them, the first vice president of the Government and deputy general secretary of the PSOE, María Jesús Montero; the ministers Félix Bolaños and Óscar Puente; Ferraz's organizational secretary, Santos Cerdán; Sánchez's chief of staff, Óscar López; and the Secretary of State for Communication, Francesc Vallès. The uncertainty is absolute, waiting for the President of the Government to announce his decision on Monday: “Let's see what happens,” they allege. “We all have to reflect as a society,” they prescribe.
The impression is spreading among those gathered at Moncloa and the socialist leadership, however, that Sánchez, who they assure is “very touched and affected” by the offensive deployed by the right against his wife, is determined to leave. “Another thing is difficult to explain,” acknowledges one of his early followers.
But the conclusion of said meeting was the determination to convey strong support to Sánchez so that he continues to lead the Government and does not throw in the towel in the face of the political, media and judicial offensive that they denounce is targeting his own wife.
Precisely this general impression that Sánchez is determined to leave – despite the fact that it is presumed that he did not confirm anything to anyone – is what explains the overwhelming reaction yesterday of the Government and the PSOE to try to get the president to reconsider his position and try to prevent him from resigning.
Montero and Bolaños set this reaction in motion, in separate radio interviews early in the morning. "Right now we are all very focused on the decision that the president makes on Monday to be to continue leading an essential project for this country, which is being a successful project in economic and social matters," said the first vice president and number two of the PSOE in Ser. “We, at this moment, are focused on trying to get positive energies to him,” Montero insisted.
The socialist leader conveyed all her support to the President of the Government, “and I think also that of millions of people”, encouraging the wave of adhesions that already started on Wednesday night. “We need it for Spain to continue advancing. Cheer up, president,” said the first vice president. In the event that Sánchez resigns on Monday, Montero would assume the acting presidency of the Government.
At the same time, the Minister of the Presidency and Justice, Félix Bolaños, insisted on this message, on Radiocable. “What we want is that the President of the Government, after the reflection he has to do, decides that the best thing is to tell the pack that he has not been able to beat him,” he declared. “The extremist pack cannot bend our pulse with lies, hoaxes and hoaxes to intimidate us. “They can’t bend our pulse!” he demanded.
“I hope that the reflection process that the president is currently carrying out ends with it continuing,” Bolaños confided. For this reason, he did not want to speculate on the options that could be opened in the event that Sánchez finally chooses to announce his resignation on Monday. “I am not going to enter into any scenario, because I want the President of the Government to continue what he does every day, which is to try to improve the situation in this country,” he reiterated.
“Democracy deserves a president who has been legitimately and democratically elected after elections like those in July. “The Spaniards voted,” the minister concluded.
And both Montero and Bolaños flatly rejected that behind Sánchez's announcement there was a political strategy or an electoral calculation, as the PP denounces.
Precisely, as the president's movement does not respond to political keys, but rather personal ones, that is why the PSOE alleges that it is not possible to advance scenarios before he announces his decision. Beyond trying to avoid by all means that its main and best political and electoral asset throws in the towel prematurely.
Former president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, always ready to help Sánchez in difficult moments, made his voice heard next. “We must understand and respect the president, but I ask my colleagues and supporters to mobilize, we must support and support Pedro Sánchez. Let us react to the insidiousness with democratic courage and not with disdain," demanded Zapatero, also in Ser. "We cannot remain still and silent," encouraged Zapatero. With a direct message for the president: “Of course it's worth it, Pedro.”
The PSOE federations, and also the PSC, got into action immediately, and began to call extraordinary meetings of their executives or to issue statements to express their support for Sánchez.
And a rally of militants and sympathizers has already been called for next Saturday in front of the socialist headquarters of Ferraz, "to support the president and Spanish democracy", precisely on the occasion of the meeting of the party's federal committee.
The meeting of the highest body of the party between congresses, scheduled this Saturday in Ferraz to approve the candidacies for the European elections of June 9, and to support Salvador Illa before the Catalan elections of May 12, will thus become an act of support unanimous support for Sánchez by all socialist territorial leaders.
The demand that Sánchez not throw in the towel, in any case, goes beyond the socialist ranks. Several leaders of Sumar, a partner of the PSOE in the Government coalition, called to stand up. “This Government is worth it,” defended Íñigo Errejón. And Enrique Santiago warned that left-wing forces have to unite against the right to confront the “aggression against democracy.”
