2023-07-07 05:48:20
La Croix: to everyone’s surprise, the day after a heavy electoral defeat for the left in the municipal and regional elections of May 29, Pedro Sanchez called early legislative elections. Why elections in the middle of July?
Maria Elisa Alonso : He really had no choice. The elections were scheduled for December 2023, but given the defeat of the left in the municipal and regional elections last May – the right won at least six of the ten regions hitherto led by the socialist party – the coming months would have been a burden on his leadership and would have weakened the party itself. I do not believe that the choice of this date in the middle of summer and during the holiday period will have a strong impact on abstention, which is constant in Spain.
Isn’t that a bit of a risky bet?
M. E. A. : It’s quits or double. I think that Pedro Sanchez wants to take advantage of the threat of the rise of the extreme right party, Vox, to provoke a surge from the left. Moreover, he has started a very strong media campaign, based on a near-omnipresence in the media and social networks. And this morning he called on abstainers and right-wing voters disappointed with alliances with Vox to join him.
Despite criticism from the opposition, which wants to put an end to “sanchism” and from his own camp, which accuse him of monopolizing the party too much for his own benefit, he masters the debates, the rhythm of the interviews in which he highlights his Economic and Social.
What are the key measures of his program presented this Friday?
M. E. A. : There is no surprise effect. His program is a continuation of the measures initiated during his mandate. Pedro Sanchez insisted on the need to arrive at a « consensus social »he repeated several times the expression of “social peace”, through the fall in unemployment, the rise in the minimum wage, the question of pensions. On the ecological question, he announced measures to alleviate the drought thanks to the construction of desalination plants. Finally, he also mentioned measures to support farmers.
Does the left have a chance of winning? ?
M. E. A. : In his speech this Friday, I felt he was quite optimistic, I have the impression that he is convinced that the situation could turn in his favor. However, according to the polls, the People’s Party (PP, right) will win the elections on 23rd July next. It remains to be seen whether this victory will be achieved with an absolute majority (176 deputies) or whether he will need a coalition with Vox. The two big parties of right and left will each need a partner. For the Socialist Party, it would be the new Sumar party, created in 2023 by Yolanda Díaz; for the PP, it would be Vox. Whoever brings enough deputies to guarantee an absolute majority will have the key to the government in Spain.
#pari #risqué #Pedro #Sanchez