"Until when will this garbage last?": the war returns to Congress after the papal parenthesis

MadridMonday there were no shouts in the Congress of Deputies. In fact, there was a sepulchral silence while waiting to hear Pope Leo XIV at the rostrum of the hemicycle and, once the speech was made, almost all the deputies applauded unanimously for 7 minutes. They gave a standing ovation to the pontiff despite hearing issues, both from the right and the left, that they did not like. This Wednesday, that parenthesis of peace has vanished as if it had never existed: tension has returned, the harshest words have once again predominated in the plenary session between the Spanish government and the opposition.

Continuing with the warlike parallels, the first to open fire was Alberto Núñez Feijóo. The leader of the PP began his speech thus: "12 indictments, 17 crimes, and almost a hundred defendants. And to cover it up, he has engaged in state delinquency [...]. He will go down in history as the instigator, financier, and beneficiary of the biggest corruption case in democracy," he said, addressing Pedro Sánchez. He even referred to the Spanish president as P.S. in allusion to the note in Leire Díez's diary, in a style very similar to what the PSOE used to refer so many times to M. Rajoy who appears in Bárcenas' papers. "If he knew everything, he will have to resign for corruption, and if he didn't know, he will have to resign for incompetence. This is what this chamber is demanding, even your partners. You ignore the legislative power because you are afraid of the judicial power. How long will this filth last?" Feijóo even blurted out.

The applause from the popular bench was loud, while indignation took hold of the socialist seats. "If you want to play with acronyms, first ask about M. Rajoy. Enough of the double standard: I sit in a headquarters on Ferraz Street that has not been financed with dirty money," Sánchez replied forcefully. And he continued: "I accept my mistakes, but I will never accept your degree of hypocrisy. From the party of Púnica, Gürtel, Kitchen, the patriotic police, the party of Marcial Dorado... Lessons, none." Sánchez accused Feijóo of "not having his own voice and being the voice of his masters," Spanish elites who feel "uncomfortable" with this government that "raises the professional minimum wage, pensions, or benefits territorial cohesion." In this way, he reiterated that he will hold on until 2027 and "even beyond," if the Spanish people want.

So much so that the Minister of Economy, Carlos Cuerpo, has set a date for the announcement made by Sánchez at the Cercle d'Economia, where he assured that he would get down to business for the 2027 budgets. The also first vice-president of the Spanish government has announced that he will present the macroeconomic framework, a prior step to making the accounts, on the upcoming June 23.

"The Pope has spoken more Catalan than you in his entire political career"

The other strong point of the government control session was the questions from the leader of Junts, Míriam Nogueras, and the spokesperson for EH Bildu, Mertxe Aizpurua. Nogueras lamented the situation in the Principality.

—"How do you see Catalonia, Mr. Sánchez?", asked the leader of Junts.

—"I see it well", replied the Spanish president.

—"Then put on some glasses", stated Nogueras.

For the leader of Junts, the Spanish government does not pay the Generalitat what it owes and, furthermore, there is fiscal pressure that does not allow Catalans to get ahead — she explained. "The streets are overflowing with teachers, healthcare workers, and Rodalies users", she said. She also took the opportunity to attack the government of Salvador Illa: "It is incapable of defending Catalonia and the Catalan language. It should fight for Catalans". And she ended with a reflection: she reproached Sánchez and also the leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, that Pope Leo XIV "has spoken more Catalan in an hour in Catalonia than they have in their entire political careers. It explains very well how much Catalans matter to them".

Sánchez defended himself: "I have profound respect for Catalan, Basque, and Galician. Catalan can be spoken in this chamber thanks to an initiative from your group. It cannot be done in the Senate because the absolute majority of the PP blocks it. That is the difference between one and the other". In fact, for the Spanish government, this is the best executive that Catalans could have. He cited, among other things, the amnesty law that should be fully applied soon and also the new financing model that provides more money for the autonomous communities. Furthermore, he recalled that "work is being done" to make Catalan official in the European Union, even though the PP is trying to boycott it, he said. What does the Popular Party say about this? Party sources deny the majority, despite the campaign they orchestrated against the native language in European institutions. "We respect the official languages", they assure, in addition to warning Junts that, based on the polls, they are not capitalizing on their support for Sánchez.

Be that as it may, from Alberto Núñez Feijóo's ranks they appear calm about the Spanish government's situation, as they interpret that time is on their side: "Sánchez's bloc is wearing out and Feijóo's is rising," they state. And, at the same time, they are certain that the judicial storm surrounding the PSOE will escalate. Next week's agenda is horribilis for Sánchez: on Monday his wife, Begoña Gómez, is summoned for a preliminary hearing before Judge Juan Carlos Peinado; on Tuesday the Director General of the Civil Guard, Mercedes González, must appear in the Senate after it transpired that she met with Leire Díez, and on Wednesday at 9 a.m. former president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is summoned to testify as an investigated party by Judge José Luis Calama.

Despite everything, EH Bildu spokesperson, Mertxe Aizpurua, one of Sánchez's main partners, has urged prudence in the plenary. She has asked the PSOE leader to explain himself on June 24 regarding the alleged corruption cases, but has also warned that "there is an operation underway to overthrow the government and end the plurinational cycle." "We know well how the Civil Guard and the judiciary fabricate case files for political operations," she stated, before adding that "it will not be us who facilitate the reactionary bloc reaching the government." Of course, she urged Sánchez to recover the political agenda and take advantage of the remaining year to "socially advance" and recognize the "plurinational reality of the State." What purpose will "give meaning" to the rest of the legislature? Sánchez has acknowledged that this is an "uncomfortable government" for some sectors of the State, but has not clarified how he intends to reach the end.