Sánchez acknowledges the difficulties but maintains he will complete his term: "There's still a lot of work to be done."

MadridPedro Sánchez is determined to complete the current term. This means keeping it alive until 2027. Although he has reached the midpoint of his term at a time marked by weakness in the Congress of Deputies and dogged by the shadow of corruption with the Cerdán case, which is looming over the PSOE, Sánchez is not throwing in the towel. "There is still a lot of work to be done and a long term," the Spanish Prime Minister stated this Monday, as he began his review of the current term before the holiday break, during which he presented the report. Complying.

The idea was reiterated several times throughout Monday's appearance, including towards the end: "Legislatures last four years," he said. This is a circumstance Sánchez is already familiar with. coinciding with the start of the trial of the ProcessERC overturned the budget for that year, and Sánchez called early elections. However, the context back then was very different: the PP had just lost power following the vote of no confidence against Mariano Rajoy in 2018, after the party was convicted of corruption, and all the polls predicted a Socialist victory.

Be that as it may, Sánchez has assured that the government's intention is to present a draft state budget for 2026, although it is already late considering the usual procedure. However, whether it ultimately prospers or not is another matter: "We are a coalition government with a parliamentary minority, but we will work with all groups to convince them that these are good budgets [...] What do I do if they don't approve them? I will work to convince them," he said. The question that has been looming over this debate for days is whether Sánchez will present a budget even if he doesn't have the necessary votes tied up—in other words, whether he will take the plunge even though it's empty. In fact, this Monday's assessment comes after Congress approved the energy decree last week to strengthen the electricity system. Aside from the People's Party (PP), Junts, Podemos, and the Nationalist BNG (BNG) voted against it. The executive is already working to approve some measures that don't require the approval of the lower house. "In any case, in addition to a state budget, we have a fantastic tool in the form of European funds, and they are also other budgets," Sánchez concluded.

The truth is that the state budget is one of the most important, if not the main, tests for boasting stability, but also for a government project. If he fails to approve the budget in 2026, Sánchez could be forced to end his term without having approved new budgets (the electoral calendar usually complicates negotiations even further).

Building trust with partners

This desire for new public accounts clashes with a horizon that, at least in the short term, is anything but peaceful. The relationship, always weak, with the investiture partners, particularly with Junts and Podemos, is not going through its best moment, largely due to the outbreak of the Cerdán case (also the Koldo case and the Ábalos case). The open case that has led to the current number three of the Socialists, Santo Cerdán, being held in pretrial detention for alleged corruption has, among other things, caused a rift in trust with all of them, to the point that the idea of a vote of no confidence has been raised.

Furthermore, in the case of the regional council members, there are additional complaints about the PSOE's failures to comply with issues such as the official status of Catalan in Europe or the application of the amnesty law, which keeps the return of Carles Puigdemont in the air. "[Our vote] cannot be taken for granted," The former president of Junts in the PSOE warned him this SundayDuring the assessment, Sánchez defended the law and again left the door open to meeting with Puigdemont. But it can't be said that the relationship is enjoying a honeymoon with the PNV (Basque Nationalist Party) or ERC (Republican Left), although the former remain in constant balance because they govern the Basque Country thanks to the Socialists. For the Republicans, who this Tuesday will see another step taken in the transfer of commuter rail services with the approval of the new joint venture, the definitive implementation of the financing model is a thorn in their side. "The negotiations [with the Treasury] are going badly," lamented the president of Esquerra (Republican Left), Oriol Junqueras, this Monday.

The PP is coming out in force.

The one thing Sánchez will definitely not be able to count on is the PP.the balance press conference, the leader of the Popular Party (PP), Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has warned the Spanish Prime Minister not to count on the PP when his plurinational majority in Congress fails.

In addition to this closed door to any kind of understanding, the Socialists have long been living with the constant barbs from the Popular Party (PP), which is once again haunted by the shadow of corruption following the outbreak of the Montoro case and the pressure on Sánchez to call early elections. In fact, Feijóo has asked his party to get into electoral mode and be prepared to carry out a "total clean-up" of "Sanchismo" once they reach the Moncloa Palace. For the PSOE, the Montoro case has been presented as one of the few opportunities to shift the focus from the cases involving it, while the PP denies that it is "comparable" in the Santos Cerdán case. "Sánchez has come out to give a rally about how well he governs, without a majority, a say, or a budget. He only has corruption, commissions, and audio recordings," Feijóo asserted.

Economy and Foreign Policy

But neither all the previous headaches, nor the open court cases surrounding Sánchez, which prompted him to reflect for five days, have led the Spanish government to fall into despondency, or at least that's what the head of the executive has conveyed. Amid all the din, Sánchez is clinging to the economy. This Monday, he didn't hesitate to boast about the arrival of foreign tourists this summer, the number of registered workers in the labor market, and GDP growth. "In the face of the usual doom and gloom, there's optimism in the data," he stated. He also champions leading a foreign policy regarding the war in the Gaza Strip, but also in Ukraine, which, despite starting alone, is ultimately gaining supporters, as is the case with the recognition of Palestine. In this regard, Sánchez announced the shipment of food to Gaza this Friday to help combat hunger.

However, Monday's appearance began with a clash between the PSOE and Sumar over the new paid leave for birth and childcare. Finally, both coalition partners have reached an agreement for the Council of Ministers to approve the new benefits this Tuesday, as Sumar demanded. For the party led by Second Vice President and Minister of Labor Yolanda Díaz, this decree is like a breath of fresh air to focus on social issues and give a boost to the current legislature, especially now that Sánchez is determined to see it out.