Pressure within the Extremadura PSOE the day after the elections: "Gallardo should apologize and resign."

MadridFirst internal movements in the PSOE after the electoral setback in ExtremaduraThe Socialists suffered by far their worst results ever in the region, losing ten seats compared to 2023 and falling seventeen points behind the People's Party (PP). Following this, the first voices emerged calling for the resignation of the Socialist candidate, Miguel Ángel Gallardo. The first to voice criticism was the president of the Cáceres Provincial Council, Miguel Ángel Morales, who also criticized Gallardo's candidacy after being... prosecuted for malfeasance and influence peddling Regarding Pedro Sánchez's brother, Morales declared, "The results have been a complete disaster, an unmitigated disaster, a resounding failure. Furthermore, there is no justification that can be offered." He urged him to apologize and resign. Morales is now focused on "rebuilding" the party and beginning a "new chapter." This afternoon, the Extremadura branch of the PSOE is holding a leadership meeting to analyze the results and assess the next steps. The question of the leader's continued leadership will be addressed at this meeting.

From Castilla-La Mancha, Emiliano García-Page, the regional leader most critical of Pedro Sánchez, has called on the PSOE to engage in "self-criticism" after their electoral debacle: "There are plenty of excuses, alibis, and strategies to divert attention, as well as attempts at self-justification that lead to self-deception." Furthermore, despite the reaction from Miguel Ángel Gallardo and the party headquarters in Madrid (Ferraz) to discredit the PP's results and María Guardiola's strategy of calling early elections, the president of Castilla-La Mancha has acknowledged that his victory was "clear and undeniable."

Crossed messages between the PP and Vox

Now all eyes are on the PP and Vox and the viability of a new agreement between the two parties. Initially, the PP is boasting that the results offer a scenario in which María Guardiola only needs an abstention from the far-right party to be invested as president and to pass the budget. But, at the same time, Santiago Abascal reminds the PP headquarters in Madrid that they have doubled their results and that if Vox enters the equation, they will make their presence felt: "It doesn't matter what they ask of us. If Vox is involved in any way, it will be for a major change in Extremadura." Abascal warns the PP that their voters cannot be "made invisible or betrayed," urges María Guardiola to "make a move," and, for the moment, is not revealing his demands: "The ball is in their court; we are not limiting ourselves to any possibility, and no hypothesis is ruled out."

Meanwhile, the People's Party (PP) has gathered its regional leaders at its headquarters on Génova Street to celebrate the victory. In a scene befitting a grand occasion—with Feijóo greeting them at the door and applause from the staff—the PP is attempting to portray the election results as a success. The PP leader spoke of an "undeniable victory," and María Guardiola of a "resounding win," even though they fell four seats short of an absolute majority. The PP candidate believes that calling early elections "was worth it" and encourages Vox to take a "sensible look" at the results. An invitation that Abascal did not take kindly to: "These are statements typical of her characteristic arrogance," he retorted. Feijóo believes the elections have been "clarifying," asks the far right not to make "capricious interpretations," and invites both sides to act with "responsibility and proportionality." "I hope Vox understands what the majority of Spaniards who longed for change are asking of us and that they never again choose the wrong adversary," he stated. And what does he think of the growth of Santiago Abascal's party? He presented it as a "great success" for the PSOE and urged the Socialists to "accept the failure of their narrative" based on "fueling fear" of Vox: "The cliché of the right and the far right no longer holds water." Nevertheless, Feijóo believes that the elections in Extremadura "have triggered a domino effect that will not stop."