Sánchez defends himself against PP attacks on Constitution Day: "Spain is experiencing one of its best moments"

MadridCongress is hosting the commemoration of the 47th anniversary of the Constitution this Saturday, an event marked by polarization and the political battle between the PP and the PSOE. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defended himself against attacks from the Popular Party and asserted, in a statement without taking questions at the beginning of the ceremony, that "Spain is experiencing one of the best moments in its democratic history." The Socialist leader thus refuted the "litany of the prophets of doom," referring to previous statements by the PP. Just before Sánchez, the PP president, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, presented the opposing narrative and accused him of leading the Spanish government that "has most degraded the Constitution." The anniversary comes amidst political polarization in the country, with no bridges between the two main parties, which, however, are still united by institutional events such as this Saturday's ceremony or those held a couple of weeks ago for the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the monarchy. Neither Vox nor the nationalist and separatist parties participated in that celebration either. This Saturday, however, ministers and members of parliament from the Sumar coalition are present. The main event, co-chaired by the Socialist Speaker of the Congress, Francina Armengol, and the Popular Party Speaker of the Senate, Pedro Rollán, takes place against a backdrop of the PSOE's battle over the Salazar case and the PP's Torrejón Hospital scandal in Madrid.

The Spanish prime minister arrives at a delicate moment in the midst of the election campaign in ExtremaduraIn an election where a PP victory is predicted, with Vox on the rise and increasingly beset by internal and legal scandals, the day will be dominated by the widely acknowledged mishandling of sexual harassment allegations against former Socialist leader and former high-ranking official at Moncloa Palace, Paco Salazar. Sánchez has counterattacked with reports of malpractice at the publicly owned hospital in the Community of Madrid, managed by the private company Ribera Salud. The Socialist leader invoked Article 43 of the Constitution, which "enshrin the right to public health," and stressed that the Spanish government "will do everything in its power" to guarantee it. Ayuso responded in another statement to the media that Sánchez is exploiting and exaggerating this case to "cover up" his own scandals.

From Isla to Vox: a day of absences

Regarding the absences, the far-right spokesperson in Congress, Pepa Millán, made a statement this Saturday in the lower house to justify the absence of Santiago Abascal's party. "We cannot share space" with the Spanish government, she said, and rejected "pretending to be normal" alongside an executive branch "cornered by corruption." The day began with the raising of the flag and a brief military parade. Many of the presidents of the autonomous communities were also absent, including Salvador Illa. The Catalan president, who has just returned from Mexico amidst the swine fever crisis, nevertheless defended the Constitution from afar in a message to X.