Óscar Puente (PSOE): "A government is being attempted to be overthrown with non-democratic methods"

MadridIn the Congress of Deputies, there is a background murmur that does not cease. It is composed of the voices of both the PP and the parliamentary allies of Pedro Sánchez, who are asking him to move forward with elections. However, for the moment, the socialists have decided to ignore this buzz and are doubling down on their bet to resist until the end of the legislature, pointing directly to the existence of a political operation against them —although without using the word lawfare—. This is the argument put forward in the corridors of the lower house by the Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, one of the PSOE leaders who usually raises his voice the most, especially through social networks. In his opinion, it is "undeniable" that what is happening is part of an attempt to "overthrow a government by non-democratic methods".

In this regard, Puente has insinuated that an attempt has been made to cover up the declaration in the National High Court of the main defendants in the Kitchen case, which affects the PP, with the start of the trial of Sánchez's brother in Badajoz. "It seems that the times of justice and politics are measured in a tremendously surprising way," he stated. Sources from the socialist leadership have been privately fueling the idea of a possible conspiracy by the political and judicial right against them for days and maintain that there is too much "synchronization" between the actions of the justice system and the PP's strategy. From the popular ranks, on the other hand, they deny having any privileged information or pulling strings and see a desperate and agonizing PSOE.

: if the Spanish president knew something, since according to the magistrate the plot was set up during Sánchez's five days of reflection in 2024.

The PNB raises its tone From the socialist leadership, the ground is already being prepared to create a firewall, distancing Sánchez from any instruction that might have been given within the hypothetical "criminal structure" to "obstruct" judicial proceedings to which the judge points. Although in Pedraz's order a question hoversregarding whether the Spanish president knew anything, since according to the magistrate the plot was set up during Sánchez's five days of reflection in 2024.

The PNV raises its voice

Although some parties of the plurinational majority also denounce that "there is media, judicial and police coup-mongering", in the words of Gabriel Rufián also this Thursday in Congress, they reject that the PSOE uses this as an excuse. "There are many desires [to overthrow the government], but if you make excuses, then what happens happens. You have to keep your house clean", insisted the ERC spokesperson in the lower house, who has called for "detailed explanations" from the Spanish president after yesterday the National Court judge Santiago Pedraz pointed to the alleged existence of alleged PSOE sewers and indicted Santos Cerdán, Sánchez's former right-hand man, in preventive detention for another case of alleged alleged corruption.

One more day, the PNB has called on Sánchez not to exhaust an "absolutely blocked legislature". In a press briefing, its president, Aitor Esteban, argued that "the general interest demands an electoral call this year" and contradicted Sánchez, accusing him of holding on until the end for "a particular partisan interest". "This leads nowhere", he reiterated, while avoiding entering the scenario of supporting a motion of no confidence from the PP and focusing on an early election by the head of the executive. The Basque nationalists, like PSOE critics such as the president of Castilla-la Mancha, Emiliano García-Page, are not interested in next year's municipal elections coinciding with the general elections.

Meanwhile, the PP is taking the opportunity to increase pressure on the PSOE's investiture allies to agree to overthrow it if it continues to resist an "immediate electoral call". "The moment demands more than abstaining from the problem. Sánchez's partners must decide", stated Alberto Núñez Feijóo at a PP event in Leganés. The popular leader criticized the Spanish government's "absurd attempt to resist at all costs", as did the Madrid president, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, who, in her case, called for either elections or a vote of confidence.