What do Sánchez's partners say about the Leire case?

BarcelonaThe Leire case has been shaking up Spanish politics for days and has intensified the confrontation between the PSOE and the PP. The Popular Party has once again called for elections after The appearance of Leire Díez, the former socialist activist who has tried to dig up dirt on the Civil Guard"It's shameful theater," lamented Alberto Núñez Feijóo. Socialist party members have reacted by attacking the Popular Party (PP). "There's a dirty war against the Spanish government. What they're doing is worthy of imprisonment," asserted Minister Óscar López. Now, what role are Pedro Sánchez's partners playing? Since the Leire case broke, much of the focus has also been on the state government's coalition partner, Sumar, which had maintained a rather low profile until now. However, this Wednesday, Yolanda Díaz came forward to demand explanations from the PSOE after the "absurd" appearance by Díez. However, the investiture partners have gone a step further, and ERC and Podemos have asked Pedro Sánchez to appear in Congress.

An appearance supported by Junts and, of course, also demanded by the PP. Sumar, on the other hand, does not see it as necessary because it considers it a "spectacle." "The key isn't one appearance or another; the key is regaining public trust in the institutions," said Verónica Martínez Barbero, spokesperson for Sumar in Congress, on Wednesday. She advocated pushing through a law to create a corruption prevention office. Barbero, however, called for "forcefulness" from the PSOE when it comes to acting against Leire Díez. The coalition partner's balance is evident because, on the one hand, it must remain faithful to the zero tolerance for corruption it has always championed, and on the other, it doesn't want to play into the hands of the right or destabilize its government. This role has generated misgivings in some of the parties that form part of Sumar, such as Esquerra Unida and Compromís.

This also applies to the ranks of Podemos. The party's leader, Ione Belarra, has demanded "explanations" from Sánchez to "get to the bottom of the matter." A way to distance themselves from and wear down Sumar, with whom they have long been engaged in an open struggle to lead the space to the left of the PSOE. In Catalonia, ERC and Junts have not spared themselves from criticism. "Basically, it's the sewers pouring out everywhere," say Republican sources. A thesis also repeated by Junts: "Maximum transparency." Both parties agree that the fact that they support the governability of the State has no influence when it comes to demanding explanations from the Spanish executive.

The Socialists, for their part, defend themselves and accuse the PP of using this case to gain control of the Moncloa. "It's not typical of parties that should have internalized democratic values," lamented spokesperson Esther Peña. However, there are also barbs coming from within the PSOE, especially from the men Critics of Sánchez. The president of Castilla-La Mancha, the socialist Emiliano García Page, has said that he would not mind bringing forward elections to the state to prevent Spanish politics from "dragging the PSOE into the territories," as happened in the 2023 municipal and regional elections. "I think the vast majority would prefer it," he stated in an interview. 65 and over, published before Díez's appearance. A few days ago, the former leader of the PSOE in Aragon, Javier Lambán, also expressed similar sentiments, urging Sánchez to end "this agony."