The Spanish Senate on Wednesday approved a resolution proposed by the People’s Party (PP) demanding that Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez call elections. The initiative received support from 145 senators out of 253 who participated in the vote. The Junts party was present but abstained, while PNV voted against. This resolution was not discussed or voted on in Congress due to a veto by the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) and Sumar.
The resolution consists of five points, the fifth of which states: “The Senate urges the head of government to propose the dissolution of the General Courts and call general elections in accordance with the prerogative granted to him by current legislation, considering the political, not legally binding, nature of this initiative.”
Defense of Democracy and Criticism of the Government
Alicia Garcia, spokesperson for the PP in the Senate, defended the resolution, stating that it “is not a resolution against the government, but in defense of democracy,” referring to the veto that blocked its discussion and vote in Congress. “Pedro Sanchez’s time is up. And he knows it,” Garcia said, emphasizing that Sanchez is “responsible” for the corruption issues affecting his personal and political circle.
Junts’ Position and Accusations
Eduard Pujol of Junts acknowledged that his party agrees with the PP on the necessity of holding elections. However, he also urged the conservatives to “correct” their past role in the independence process, stating: “You have made many mistakes.” Pujol asked: “What has the PP done in recent months to show that they are not the same as always?” He added that “the PP does not have a majority and is unable to make friends,” referring to the legal situation of Carles Puigdemont, and sharply criticized the PSOE: “It’s all over, call elections.”
Other points of the resolution highlight the parliamentary weakness of the government and the corruption issues surrounding Sanchez’s political and personal circle. The first point “condemns the anomaly of the absence throughout the legislature of any of the two democratic procedures that allow verifying whether the government retains parliamentary confidence,” referring to the lack of budgets and the absence of the Debate on the State of the Nation. The second point “notes the political blockade” since under Sanchez’s government, Congress “has approved the fewest number of legislative initiatives in 33 months among all legislatures of the current democratic period.” The third point “notes the need for the government and its head to assume political responsibility” for numerous cases of “likely corruption.” Finally, the fourth point calls on the government to “clarify responsibility” in the case of Leire Dies.
Source: La Vanguardia