Ministers of Governmentbarons of PSOEterritorial leaders of the party and socialist militancy are mobilizing in support of the president, Pedro Sanchez. They openly and massively ask him to continue leading the Executive, after this Wednesday announced that he would take a few days of reflection about. They prepare the ground for Saturday, when a mobilization is called in Ferraz to “support Sánchez and democracy”, and which coincides in time and place with the meeting of the Federal Committee, the highest body of the party between congresses. In this way, socialist militancy and the party structure will launch a unanimous and parallel message in support of Sánchez just 48 hours before the president announces his decision on whether or not to continue leading the Executive.
The drip of messages began this Wednesday, a few minutes after Sánchez questioned his continuity as head of the Executive for the opening proceedings against his wife. The vice president Teresa Riberarecently confirmed as cPSOE list head to the Europeans, the minister Angel Victor Torres or the spokesperson for the Executive, Pilar Alegría, they hastily came to his defense. From the other side of the coalition, the second vice president and leader of Sumar, Yolanda Diazalso showed his support for Sánchez’s decision, adding that the right could not get “its way” and urging defend “the progressive bloc” and the legitimacy of the Government.
Even the most critical socialist baron, the president of Castilla-La Mancha, Emiliano García-Page, showed his support this Thursday and, in fact, on this occasion he will attend the Federal Committee this Saturday, despite the fact that his attendance at these meetings is not usual. For Page, the decision that Sánchez has made is “emotional” and did not follow any political strategy. Of course, he has questioned the mechanisms to “react” that both the PSOE and the militancy have right now, since the party structures are “under a certain state of shock political”.
But the mobilization of the socialists to ask that he remain in the Executive gained strong momentum from the early hours of this Thursday. “We need it,” said the vice president and number two of the party, Maria Jesus Montero, asking for support so that the socialist leader considers staying at the head of the Government. And there was no lack of intervention by former president José Luis Rodríguez Shoemaker, a very recurring asset of the party when things go wrong. After encouraging Sánchez to continue, He asked socialist sympathizers to mobilize for this purpose. “You have to support him, protect him,” she said.
From that moment on, the territorial groups of the PSOE got going and began sending statements, calling rallies and publicly displaying their support for Sánchez. The socialists Aragonese, Extremadurans and Riojans have called to concentrate this Thursday in their territorieswhile other federations, such as that of Andalusia, have sent statements of support.
“The militancy is very hurt and very active”
From the PSOE of Madrid, and after an extraordinary meeting of its Executive, they called a concentration “for Spanish democracy” to be held this Saturday in Ferraz starting at 11:00 a.m. and it seems that it will be the culmination of the entire mobilization in support of the president. From the federation led by Juan Lobato they predict a large influx, “many anonymous people are asking,” sources from his Executive assure. And the Socialist Youths have already made a call to attend through social networks, where the call has spread like wildfire. In fact, groups like that of Ponferrada, Asturias, Navarra and the Valencian Community have already announced that they will charter buses to be in Ferraz on Saturday morning.
“What is at stake is not the position of the president, but the continuity of a left-wing government,” say sources from the Madrid federation, who believe that other left-wing parties could also attend. “There will be many people, the militancy is very hurt and very active“says a deputy and member of the Executive. “Madrid society is very aware of what is happening,” adds another regional deputy.
The Federal Committee will support Sánchez
All of this will coincide with the Federal Committee of the PSOE, which will be marked, precisely, by the absence of Sánchez. However, Ferraz sources confirm that the meeting will still take place. They assure that The members will support the general secretary of the party and, although they emphasize that the event at the doors of the headquarters is not orchestrated by the Directorate, they believe that this two-voice message – organization and militancy – will have strength for Monday, when Sánchez will reveal his final decision.
“People want to show their support for the president,” says one of the members, who believes that the influx both inside and outside of Ferraz is guaranteed this Saturday. “The call is spreading like wildfire and many militants want to go“, assures this socialist senator. Another deputy and member of the Committee thinks the same, who believes that on Saturday strength and unity will be exhibited around the figure of Sánchez.
