MadridLight blue shirt, open blazer and no tie. Pedro Sánchez entered the hemicycle of the Congress of Deputies with this casual look on a day of high political and judicial tension in Madrid: at the same time José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero was arriving at the National Court to testify as an accused for influence peddling, money laundering, tax offense, and smuggling. The pressure was already enough today to have to put on a tie. His top lieutenants have joined him: Carlos Cuerpo, who had arrived with a blue one, and Félix Bolaños, who was wearing a red one.
The official argument was the heat, as the Spanish capital is preparing for unprecedented temperatures. But the unofficial strategy is older than walking: on a day when public debate revolved around the alleged corruption surrounding the Spanish government and its weakness, they have added a disruptive and surprising element to create a different conversation thread. It's not new: he already did it when he had to appear in the Senate, forced by the PP, to talk about corruption wearing Christian Dior glasses. And why deny it: with the ties, we journalists have been entertained for quite some time early in the morning.
But beyond this first anecdote, Zapatero's testimony has not given oxygen to the Spanish government. Despite the PSOE closing ranks and Moncloa expecting this day to relieve pressure, the truth is that no political narrative has emerged to save the Spanish former president's situation. He reiterated that he had nothing to do with the Plus Ultra bailout, despite messages from the airline's top brass indicating the contrary, and has not clarified the origin of the jewelry found in his office. What he has done is ask for "confidence" to be able to prove his "innocence" because he will soon give the "appropriate explanations." In other words, he has asked his party for more time. It remains to be seen if this will take the form of something more than a statement and if he will submit to a press conference – which would be optimal in terms of transparency – or at least an interview over the weekend.
And the problem with Zapatero continues to be the lack of a political narrative. He does not explain why he had jewelry worth 1.3 million euros in his office and asks for an act of faith from his party. Therefore, Moncloa is defenseless against accusations of corruption against its moral leader. It was seen in the control session in Congress: the PP's attacks continue with the aspiration that the executive will be increasingly worn down, while a good part of the partners are already turning their backs on him. Today the PNB has set a date for the elections: after the budgets that the Spanish government says it wants to present fail.
But the most exceptional thing in this context is Pedro Sánchez's reaction: this Wednesday he has once again said that he will hold on until 2027 – and from Moncloa they also reiterate it in private – and nothing for now is enough to disturb this course. And if there is a vote that can put him against the ropes, such as the one that urged to call elections, he uses the majority of the PSOE and Sumar in the table to veto it. And, in addition, he takes off his tie.
