Spanish elections and politics IV / European Parliament campaign, diplomatic crisis with Argentina

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

On RTVE, they categorized the new government into 5 groups (below). Behold the level of posting I can accomplish when I am bored at my work computer with no work to do.

1. The vice presidents

Nadia Calviño (PSOE-Independent):
• Economic Affairs (no change, but lost Digital Transformation)
Yolanda Díaz (Sumar-PCE):
• Labor and Social Economy (no change)
Teresa Ribera (PSOE):
• Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (no change)
María Jesús Montero (PSOE):
• Finance (no change, but elevated to vice-presidential rank)

2. "El núcleo" (the most trusted allies of Pedro Sánchez)

Félix Bolaños (PSOE):
• Presidency & Relations with Parliament (no change)
• Justice (replaces Pilar Llop of PSOE)
Pilar Alegría (PSOE):
• Education, Professional Training, Sport (no change except Sport was taken from Min. of Culture & Sport, which was held by Miquel Iceta of PSOE-PSC)
• Government Spokesperson (replaces Isabel Rodríguez of PSOE)

3. The Sumar people (plus Yoli = total of 5)

Ernest Urtasun (Sumar-Catalunya en Comú):
• Culture (replaces Miquel Iceta of PSOE-PSC)
Pablo Bustinduy (Sumar-Independent, former Podemos leader):
• Social Rights and Consumer Affairs (replaces Ione Belarra of Podemos re: Social Rights, replaces Alberto Garzón of UP-IU-PCE re: Consumer Affairs)
Sira Rego (Sumar-IU-PCE):
• Childhood and Youth (new ministry)
Mónica García (Sumar-Más Madrid):
• Health (replaces José Miñones of PSOE)

4. The new PSOE people, former local and regional politicians

Jordi Hereu (PSOE-PSC), former mayor of Barcelona:
• Industry (replaces Héctor Gómez of PSOE)
Ángel Víctor Torres (PSOE), former president of Canary Islands:
• Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory (replaces Isabel Rodríguez of PSOE re: territory; replaces Félix Bolaños of PSOE re: memory)
Óscar Puente (PSOE), former mayor of Valladolid:
• Transport (replaces José Luis Ábalos of PSOE)
Elma Sáiz (PSOE):
• Social Security (new ministry taken from "Social Security" work of former "Min. of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration" which was José Luis Escrivá of PSOE-Independent)
Ana Redondo (PSOE):
• Equality (replaces Irene Montero of Podemos)

5. The old PSOE people, no changes at these jobs except Rodríguez and Escrivá

José Manuel Albares (PSOE):
• Foreign Affairs
Margarita Robles (PSOE-Independent):
• Defense
Fernando Grande-Marlaska (PSOE-Independent):
• Interior
Diana Morant (PSOE):
• Science and Universities (keeps Science but takes Universities which was Joan Subiratas of UP-Catalunya en Comú)
Luis Planas (PSOE):
• Agriculture
Isabel Rodríguez (PSOE):
• Housing and Urban Agenda (new ministry taken from "Urban Agenda" work of former "Min. of Transport, Mobility, and Urban Agenda" which was José Luis Ábalos of PSOE)
José Luis Escrivá (PSOE-Independent):
• Digital Transformation (new ministry taken from "Digital Transformation" work of former "Min. of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformaion" which was Nadia Calviño of PSOE-Independent)

Let me know if I got anything wrong! Mostly wanted to make a post that looks pretty and colorful. Happy Monday all

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

Sort of seems inevitable, with a Congress this divided, right?

Would be curious to know how long those more plugged into Spanish politics think this Congress will last - couple of years? Months?

Could be weeks, but with Pedro Sánchez in charge you never know what he'll manage to pull off.

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

So much potential left to wither away because some people's egos were too big.

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

Podemos as a progressive actor in Spanish politics is all but done for. Sanchez killed it at last.

Where’s errejon?

He left in 2019, tired of fighting with Iglesias. He founded More Country, which merged into Sumar (except its Madrid branch, which is now called More Madrid).

Well, yes, but I mean more recently

Errejón is currently serving as a deputy and as president of the Más País party, which is a member of the Sumar alliance.

Podemos as a progressive actor in Spanish politics is all but done for. Sanchez killed it at last.

Where’s errejon?

He left in 2019, tired of fighting with Iglesias. He founded More Country, which merged into Sumar (except its Madrid branch, which is now called More Madrid).

It's the other way around, Más Madrid came first (founded by Errejón and Manuela Carmena), then he went and started a national version of the same party, Más País. They are both members of Sumar, and indeed the leader of Más Madrid, Mónica García, is currently serving as a minister in Pedro Sánchez's government as one of the Sumar ministers.

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

Embarrassing display by the Podemos membership and leadership. I know the leftist parties don't have much of a chance for victory in Galicia, but blatantly giving up ahead of the campaign period is so disrespectful to people who want to see Podemos's own agenda implemented in one way or another.

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

Amnistia defeated by Junts. Conservative brains explode as they don't know who to attack.

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

Should we read anything wider into Vox getting such a low score?

I saw an analyst on the news blaming the "centralism" ideology of Boks for their (past and present) failure in Galicia. PP, which we should recall was founded by the feudal lord of Galicia Manuel Fraga, has always been viewed as respecting Galician interests. Boks was founded on the idea of national "equality" (a/k/a a total lack of respect for regional differences). This plays well in the conservative and/or Castillian parts of Spain, but fell flat in Galicia. This was also cited as the reason for Ciudadanos never ever gaining a base in Galicia either, at least according to the analyst I heard. (I think she was correct)

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

Another day, another mascarillas scandal in Spain. I wonder how many other countries had similar corrupt business practices during the pandemic and haven't been caught... this can't just be a Spain thing.

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

Who is likely to succeed Sanchez as psoe leader?

Spain has outside of a technicality never had a female PM so one could imagine several of his  impressive  PSOE deputy PMs are his natural successors. But if this experiment fails badly then it'll be someone from the Garcia-Page wing, more deep-statish, possibly more adapted to playing the game of the PP.

The thing is, Pedro's deputies and Garcia-Page are all older than he is. Will Sanchez run PSOE throughout the 2020s and past 2030? If so, his successor might be someone who isn't very well known nowadays.

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

Combined, Sumar + Podemos would have had about 5.5% of the vote, and surely more than 1 seat between them. What an embarrassment that they have not set aside their differences

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

If Spain wants to bully its president out of office, send him here! Any country would be more than lucky to have a leader like Pedro Sanchez. #FREESANCHEZ

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

Here is the open letter of Pedro Sánchez:

I'll try to get a real translation instead of attempting one on my own.

https://twitter.com/sanchezcastejon/status/1783181535337734409

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

In other news, PSOE has selected Sánchez's third vice president (or "third deputy prime minister") Teresa Ribera as PSOE's lead candidate for the EU Parliament elections. Ribera is also the minister for the ecological transition. She succeeds Josep Borrell, the current EU foreign minister.

https://twitter.com/Teresaribera/status/1783059675144954313

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

Now looking like Sanchez might not resign after all, maybe he has also realised how this gives every impression of being a nakedly politically motivated stunt from some distinctly shady people?

Watching the news this morning, the analysts were saying "This can't help him politically, so it must be because of the personal toll on him and his wife." I'm inclined to believe that, because Pedro Sanchez is a lifelong politician, it's been his job for his whole life. If he's making a decision like this which is not the most politically astute option (and he has shown himself to have great instincts), it must actually be a personal mental health situation behind it.

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

Lol. Adrián Barbón (the president of Asturias) was on TV this morning saying that Pedro "usually replies to my WhatsApp messages quickly, I checked in on him yesterday and he still hasn't read the message." Such drama

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

The right-wing organization that brought forward the complaint admitted it was based on fake news. Are we sure Manos Limpias is not leftist, cause they are helping to advance the dreaded Sanchismo more than any of the socios de gobierno have done in the last year!

https://twitter.com/el_pais/status/1783403717812682796

Translation: BREAKING NEWS | Manos Limpias admits the possibility that their complaint is based on fake news

The story goes on to explain that Manos Limpias intended for actual facts to be discovered by the judiciary. What a joke

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

so this organization is basically the Spanish Project Veritas?

Yes, their leader (and the person who actually filed the complaint) was a politician (or a wannabe politician, more accurately) in the 90s working with Spain's own wannabe Jean-Marie Le Pen. Actual Spaniards could fill in the blanks of course

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

Glad Pedro decided to stay. He has the makings of a true history-making leader if he keeps up his good instincts and charisma. My favorite quote of his was from the 2023 election campaign, "They don't have anything on me. I'm not perfect, but I am a clean politician." The fact that he can say that loud and proud (and repeat it in every campaign rally!) with no real pushback from the other side, is PSOE's best argument for running the country in this era. The right's only allegation of corruption is the pacts with the "enemies of Spain" parties, but clearly those complaints have not really stuck as hard as they hoped.

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

You always have great explanations Velasco. Thank you