Pedro Sánchez appears today with corruption and sexual harassment weighing down his government.

MadridPedro Sánchez faces his most difficult year-end review this Monday at midday, the one he has faced since arriving at La Moncloa seven years ago. In his usual pre-Christmas address, the Spanish Prime Minister will detail what his government has accomplished throughout the year and defend his objective of completing his term "despite the current circumstances," as he himself announced this Sunday.

The year ends as it began: marked by the courts, where the Spanish president is focused on how the investigations and open cases of alleged corruption will evolve, placing his inner circle—both the government and the party—in the spotlight. The last week They have resulted in up to five arrestsSánchez, who came to power after a vote of no confidence against Mariano Rajoy's (PP) government over the Gürtel corruption case, is risking a significant portion of his credibility. But he is also risking the respect for the feminist movement, which he has always championed, and which is now being called into question by theavalanche of sexual harassment complaints within the ranks of the PSOE and which has unleashed a series of dismissals and resignations.

To all this, a new crossfire has been added this Sunday with the Episcopal Conference, against whom Sánchez himself has lashed out after its president, Luis Argüello, called for elections: "The time when bishops interfered in politics ended when democracy began," asserted the Extremaduran leader before next Sunday's elections. In Extremadura, the polls give the Socialists disastrous results, especially considering that it has historically been one of their strongholds. The assessment, which this year is being made earlier than usual, comes just before the results are known.

But despite going through one of the most difficult moments of the legislature, Sánchez is pulling out all the stops to project a message of calm and confidence: the PSOE-Sumar coalition government is, in his view, the best option for Spain compared to the alternative represented by the PP and Vox. However, he is losing partners along the way. Podemos and Junts are the ones that have clearly distanced themselves the most from La Moncloa, but this weekend the PNV and ERC also issued warnings to the Spanish government.

In this final sprint of the term, however, he will also be able to offer positive data thanks to the macroeconomy, which has long allowed the Spanish executive to boast of its management, although access to housing and the cost of groceries continue to be a major headache for many families. Added to this will be social measures, such as the 2.7% increase in pensions in 2026, which must be approved in one of the upcoming cabinet meetings; The firm commitment to increase the minimum wage, and the intention to move forward with the new leave for bereavement and palliative care, which will be addressed this Monday in a final meeting with unions and employers' associations.

An investiture blog, less of a blog

In contrast to how the year began, Sánchez will end it with a fractured investiture bloc. To begin with, the always fragile relationship with Junts is at a standstill after they announced a blockade in Congress of all laws, or at least those not negotiated with them. Although the Socialists have tried to rebuild bridges by addressing some of their demands, the tone of the Junts party has not softened.

As for the other parties that supported him, that is, his usual partners, the events of recent weeks have not left them indifferent, and the pressure on the Spanish Prime Minister to finalize decisions and take action is growing by the minute. For now, none of the parties has crossed the line into a complete break. In this context, many are wondering what might give Sánchez some breathing room, not for the remainder of this year, but in 2026. Some point to to the possible return of Carles Puigdemont to Catalonia.