In the euphoria of the socialist electoral night of 23-J, those related to Pedro Sánchez highlighted that the surprise vote count – in which they garnered a million more votes than in 2019 – not only failed to liquidate the PSOE leader, like many they took it for granted, but had given the finishing touch to “anti-Sanchism” and neutralized the constant criticism and denunciations of Felipe González for his government and legislature alliances.
Sánchez's claim to get another investiture, this time not only with the support of ERC and Bildu, but also with the concurrence of Junts, the formation led by Carles Puigdemont, who fled from Spanish justice in Waterloo, led González, not However, to raise his voice in public again. "This is not a good path," warned the former president of the government and former leader of the PSOE, charging again against Sánchez's uncomfortable traveling companions and against his transfers to the Catalan independence movement. Now with an amnesty on the horizon that, in his opinion, does not fit into the Constitution, nor does self-determination enter.
Felipe González insisted, as always, that his opinion is free and that he only speaks on his behalf. But he also assumed that many Spaniards share his opinion. Also, of course, among the socialist ranks.
"What we are doing in the PSOE is absolutely consistent with the best socialist tradition," the acting Minister of the Presidency, the socialist Félix Bolaños, replied yesterday. The PSOE leadership tries to avoid, once again, that the misgivings and admonitions of the former president gain more force among the socialist sectors that continue to have him as a great reference. “Whenever we have been in government we have worked for coexistence, for the Constitution, for affection between citizens, for territorial cohesion. And that is how we are going to continue doing it in the near future,” Bolaños settled.
Indeed, González's opinion is not exceptional in the socialist ranks, especially among former leaders who no longer hold any position in the organization. Another historical reference who shares these criticisms of González is former Vice President Alfonso Guerra, who is expected to denounce the situation again soon.
The only socialist regional president critical of Sánchez in office, and with an absolute majority reconfirmed in the regional elections on May 28, is that of Castilla-La Mancha, Emiliano García-Page, who is also very irritated at a possible amnesty for the independentistas accused by the procés. In his opinion, such a measure would have no "moral basis", would break the principle of equality before the law and would conflict with the Constitution. "The PSOE in which I have grown up does not fit into the head of the breakup of the country," cries Page, likewise, against the demand for the self-determination referendum.
Some former ministers of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, such as Ramón Jáuregui or Jordi Sevilla, also sounded the alert. Jáuregui – one of Bolaños's predecessors in the Ministry of the Presidency – rejects an amnesty as unconstitutional and because, in his opinion, it would imply legalizing unilateralism and "acts of disloyalty and attacks on the Constitution" during the process. "Listen Puigdemont, I ask for elections," Sevilla replied after listening to the former president.
In Ferraz, in any case, they try to avoid internal confrontation, although they allege that these critical positions respond to "personal opinions". And they assure that the entire PSOE is behind Sánchez to achieve his investiture and avoid an electoral repetition, after the polls closed the way to a coalition of the PP with the extreme right of Vox.
The acting minister spokesperson, the socialist Isabel Rodríguez, in turn shows "respect" for González's opinions. But she also points out that when Sánchez addresses his investiture, "the mechanisms for participation in decision-making throughout the organization will be activated, where all the militants will be able to express themselves." In Ferraz they explain that they are not contemplating a consultation with the militancy, required by their statutes for government agreements, but not for support for the investiture. But that it could be raised to the federal committee of the PSOE, the highest body of the party between congresses, the validation of eventual investiture pacts.
Along with Ferraz's containment reaction, other socialist veterans also come up against González's criticism. One of them is Rafael Escuredo, who was the first elected president of the Junta de Andalucía in 1982. "I regret not agreeing with who my political references were," Escuredo said. And he opted for the "new generations" who seek "political solutions to the old problems of Spain."
José Montilla, former president of the Generalitat and former leader of the PSC, also warned González that the former political leaders should maintain "a certain fidelity" to the current leaders. They would also be the best people to lend a hand, he came to say, instead of putting sticks in the wheels.
