Pedro Sánchez rules out advancing elections and reaffirms his support for Zapatero
The Spanish president has appeared from Rome after the UCO's entry into the PSOE headquarters
Faced with the crisis that looms heavily over the PSOE due to the Zapatero case, the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, has reiterated his support for the socialist ex-president, who is being investigated for alleged crimes of criminal organization, influence peddling, and document forgery. On the day that the Central Operative Unit of the Civil Guard entered the party headquarters on Ferraz Street in Madrid, Sánchez assured from Rome that he has read the judge's order and has been informed of the summary through the media and that he "reaffirms" his opinion: "Full cooperation with justice, full respect for the presumption of innocence, and all my support for President Zapatero. There is no reason to change this position.
The president of the executive, who is in the Vatican for a visit to Pope Leo XIV, addressed the media in a press conference after meeting with the pontiff. He also ruled out early elections and allowed himself to jest about the opinions of two illustrious socialists, Felipe González and Emiliano García-Page. "Some colleague asks me to advance the elections because they are aware that I would have a parliamentary majority in Congress to govern more calmly. I appreciate it, but I cannot call elections for partisan interest.
Sánchez defended the merits of the "stability" that he believes his executive has and the fact of finishing the legislature. "I do not want to downplay the investigation, but it does not in any way challenge what the government of Spain is doing with progressive forces, and we will continue to do so," he said.
Regarding the UCO's entry into the PSOE headquarters that took place this Wednesday, he clarified that it is not a search, but a request for information. Although he said he does not want to "downplay the seriousness of the investigations," he stressed that the party would respond "forcefully" if new information were to emerge. Sánchez has no knowledge that the PSOE manager, Ana Fuentes, is being investigated as a suspect, and he defended her work: "She has managed the accounts scrupulously".
In a message sent to journalists, the same socialist party explains that it has received a request for documentation from the National Court and emphasizes that it is a secret case and "alien to illegal financing". "Of course, this request for a summons, not a search, has been met with full cooperation from the party," indicate the same sources. "The PSOE will always maintain a position of maximum collaboration with justice and absolute respect for judicial proceedings," they add from Ferraz.
Sánchez has insisted that the times of justice are not those of the media and has recommended prudence. Thus, he has asked to respect the presumption of innocence and, if necessary, to act with forcefulness: "We are a party that has nothing to hide. When it has to act, it acts, and it does not coexist with attitudes it repudiates," he said, alluding to the Cerdán or Ábalos case.
The PP asks its partners to withdraw support for Sánchez
Once the news of the Civil Guard's entry into Ferraz has become known, the leader of the Popular Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has demanded "give the word to the Spanish people immediately" and has asked government partners to stop supporting Pedro Sánchez. "We are in an agonizing situation, we are questioning not only the decency of the government and the PSOE, but there is a risk of contagion," he assured.