The PSOE, sure of "articulating a majority" that needs Junts: "We hope it will be a calmer legislature"

Despite the devilish scenario that the elections of July 23 have drawn, in the PSOE they are convinced that the cards play in their favor. The Socialists play the strategy of letting the PP do, warning that it does not have the numbers to govern. While they try to apply the handbrake, temporize, looking for the focus to move away so that they can then begin negotiations with the nationalists, including Junts, whose votes are key for Pedro Sánchez to be sworn in. From the socialist formation it is clear that the key negotiations will take place until the second half of August, the decisive movements, but they do see the Government being reissued. In fact, they express a wish: “We hope it will be a much calmer legislature.”

Having experienced a pandemic due to Covid-19, the eruption of the La Palma volcano and the war in Ukraine, the PSOE trust that governance, if they achieve it, will be calmer. Something difficult, yes, since it will be in the hands of the nationalists and, on this occasion, the participation of Carles Puigdemont's party in the equation is also necessary. But the Socialists, who insist on respecting the “logic of the times” and “procedures”, hope to articulate a majority that will allow them to be sworn in.

“Spain has set the course, which is the rejection of setbacks. Those of us who have held the responsibility will know how to manage the results to respond to that message that society has given”, said Isabel Rodríguez, spokesperson for the Executive. After the holding of the general elections, the Government is already in office. In fact, the Government limits its activity to a minimum and a Council of Ministers will not be held again until at least August 22.

“Citizens have mobilized a majority of progress,” insisted María Jesús Montero, number two of the PSOE, in an interview in the Ser. He has shown his desire and confidence in “articulating a majority that allows Spain to continue advancing”. “We are going to work for that majority to make its way. Whoever can form a government wins the elections and that is what the PSOE is going to try. I hope we can consummate it through dialogue and consensus.”

To form a government, the PSOE and Sumar, who hope to reissue the coalition, need at least the abstention of Junts. If not, Sánchez cannot be sworn in as president. And the formation of Carles Puigdemont has put on the table the demand to address an amnesty and self-determination.

“If something has been demonstrated in these years of Pedro Sánchez's government, it is that in Catalonia, as in the rest of Spain, only the constitutional framework is available,” Rodríguez explained.. “The PSOE has always been very clear and everyone knows that: we are a constitutional party and any issue that we address has to be within that framework.. Any other issue is moving away from that framework,” Montero completed, noting that his message is one of “clarity regarding the limits” in the face of nationalist demands.

In the PSOE they consider that the polls have endorsed the strategy undertaken by Sánchez in Catalonia and have confirmed “a diverse and plural Spain”. That the Spanish “have expressed themselves in the sense of advancing” and that it is now up to them to “manage that flow of trust.”