"There are more of us, many more, who want Spain to move forward! And that's how it will continue to be!", Pedro Sánchez promised last night, on the stage set up in Carrer Ferraz to celebrate the result of the elections.
"Spain and all its citizens have been very clear: the revolutionist block of retrogression in rights and freedoms has failed", celebrated the leader of the PSOE. "The bloc of the Popular Party and Vox has been defeated!", cried Sánchez.
"We've done it again!" shouted last night the socialist leaders gathered at the headquarters of Ferraz, where many expected a funeral night. "Nobody gave a damn for us!", they celebrated. Pedro Sánchez promised to revalidate a progressive coalition government "against all odds". "Against everything and against all", cheered his supporters, as always in his turbulent political career. And the scrutiny on 23-J left the door open for him, at least, to try. Although, as always, nothing will be simple. On the contrary
The accredited capacity of resistance of the leader of the PSOE was once again demonstrated, in any case, in another election night of a heart attack in Ferraz. The right-wing tsunami that threatened to sweep her away, especially after the disastrous run-up to the municipal and regional elections on May 28, which painted Spain blue and precipitated the advance of the generals, failed to sweep Sánchez away. On the contrary
The sum of the PP and Vox did not reach the list of the absolute majority, as some interested polls had been predicting for weeks and months, according to Sánchez himself. "Not even in dreams", the socialists had warned, on the other hand. Not even with the extra UPN seat. And this arithmetic, as they had also warned the PSOE leadership, would leave many scenarios open.
That's how it was. Alberto Núñez Feijóo won the elections, in votes and seats. But Sánchez surpassed, also in votes and seats, his results in the last general elections of 2019, with up to 31.8% of the total ballots.
"We got more votes, more seats and more percentage than four years ago!", Sánchez congratulated himself at his nightly appearance before the supporters gathered in Ferraz. And he effusively thanked the more than seven million votes obtained last night by the PSOE.
Next to Sánchez appeared his wife, Begoña Gómez - as always on great occasions -, as well as the president of the PSOE, Cristina Narbona; the deputy general secretary of the party, minister María Jesús Montero, and Ferraz's organizing secretary, Santos Cerdán. They were all genuinely euphoric.
Against all odds, therefore, the Prime Minister, now in office, continues to stand. The wave of the right has not managed to bend his knees. Although some socialist leaders assumed last night that this 23-J opens "a poisoned stage" for the investiture and for the governability of Spain. "We have come out of worse situations", they pointed out, in any case.
The PSOE left the analysis of the open political scenario for Monday. And he chose to enjoy the election night, finally, as if he had achieved a great victory at the polls.
After the whole day in Moncloa, Sánchez arrived in Ferraz almost at eleven o'clock at night. Shortly after, they closed the street to traffic so that the militants and sympathizers could celebrate, with the music at full volume. It was a party night that the socialists really needed
A tide of flags with the colors of the Arc de Sant Martí, the PSOE and Spain invaded Carrer Ferraz. Sánchez went on stage to celebrate around midnight. The celebration, after the whole day of uncertainty, was joined by vice-presidents Nadia Calviño and Teresa Ribera, and ministers Félix Bolaños, María Jesús Montero, Isabel Rodríguez, Margarita Robles, Pilar Llop and Miquel Iceta. Even Josep Borrell took part in the election night. Sánchez alleged that if he rushed the generals after the 28-M fiasco, it was because he was convinced that Spain had "to decide which course to take". "Forward or backward", he insisted. And the "involutionist bloc" of the PP and Vox, he celebrated, has failed.
The night was a roller coaster of emotions. "We will have to wait if there are smiles or tears tonight", sighed a veteran militant at the gates of Ferraz, when the scrutiny had barely begun. Finally, they were smiles. And today will be another day.
