Alfonso Guerrawho was vice president of the Government of Felipe González from 1982 to 1991, he has charged against the president of the Executive, Pedro Sanchezin an interview in The Times.
The historic socialist has not hesitated to call Sánchez an “autocrat” when asked by the aforementioned media about the president’s five-day rest. “He is increasingly autocratic and is digging his own grave“said Guerra, who also highlighted that the actions of recent days “are not compatible with parliamentary democracy.”
Along these lines, Guerra believes that Sánchez is “dividing the two Spains”and tells the British newspaper that the decision to reflect for five days after learning of the criminal investigation against his wife, Begoña Gómezfor influence peddling, has been “a political calculation” because not only announced this Monday that he would remain in the Governmentbut stated that he intended to win another term.
“This presidential style is reminiscent of the tensions of the 1930s, when a leader said ‘I decide and the people listen and applaud,” Guerra tells The Times. “It is a sign of his increasingly dangerous autocratic approach“he adds.
Tezanos and his “tarnished reputation”
But Guerra not only talks about Sánchez in the interview, he also think about the survey flash of the Sociological Research Center (CIS) which was published immediately after its decision and which has been denounced by ERC and PP before the Central Electoral Board. “It was the work of a state pollster with a reputation tarnished by tailoring results to Sánchez’s political needs,” he asserts in reference to Jose Felix Tezanospresident of the organization.
In Guerra’s opinion, everything that has happened within the Government in recent days “has caused a serious deterioration in Spain’s international image.” “It required a lot of effort to build the prestige of Spain in the transition that put Spain on the map after Franco’s long dictatorship. Getting it back will cost a lot,” she says. “Spain is in a serious state of confrontation,” she adds.
“Socialism is in decline”
In this sense, Guerra also puts Sánchez’s decision to reinforce control of the media after media articles were used to reinforce the complaint against his wife. “The press is a central element of democracy. There is a Penal Code to address defamation. There is no need for more,” he says.
The historical socialist also speaks of the renewal of the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) and emphasizes that the President of the Government is making a “persecution of the judicial system at a time when the pillars of Spanish democracy are shaken by events.”
Guerra, who has always been very critical of the amnesty lawalso reveals in the interview that “socialism is in decline” because of “Sanchez’s concessions to the Catalan separatists in exchange for keeping him in power.”
