The leader of the PSOE in Extremadura resigns after the electoral debacle

MadridThe Electoral defeat of the PSOE in Extremadura The first victim has been claimed. Less than 24 hours after posting the worst results in the region's history—a region the Socialists have governed for 36 of the last 42 years—Miguel Ángel Gallardo has resigned as the party's regional leader. He maintains that it is a "logical and well-considered decision"—he communicated it to Pedro Sánchez on Sunday—to "assume political responsibility" for the debacle and hopes it will give the PSOE a "new impetus." He leaves with his "head held high," and maintains that he has worked with "honesty and sincerity," but with minimal self-criticism: "I apologize to the citizens if at any time I have fallen short," he simply stated. Before his resignation was announced, even voices within the Socialist ranks, such as the president of the Cáceres Provincial Council, had called for their leader to step down. Gallardo's leadership has been ephemeral after two historic leaders: the almost two years he will have been general secretary of the PSOE of Extremadura -since March 2024- contrast with the mandate of Guillermo Fernández Vara -sixteen years- and Juan Carlos Rodríguez Ibarra -twenty years-.

However, Miguel Ángel Gallardo is not resigning his seat in the Extremadura Assembly, arguing that it would be a "betrayal of the trust" of the people who voted for him and with whom he has pledged to "work from the government or the opposition." Therefore, he will become a member of parliament with parliamentary immunity. This will have implications for the upcoming trial of Pedro Sánchez's brother, in which he is also implicated. accused of malfeasance and influence peddlingBoth, along with ten other people, are scheduled to appear in court next May, but if he retains his parliamentary immunity, the trial should be held in the High Court of Justice of Extremadura, not the Provincial Court of Badajoz, which could delay it. Seven months ago, he himself maneuvered to become a member of parliament and torpedo the case, but the Extremadura High Court of Justice stopped him, accusing him of "fraud of law." Now the elections have given him free rein.

Despite the resounding defeat, the PSOE considers the elections bad news for the PP due to Vox's strong growth. The Socialists admit it's a "bad result" for them, but focus their assessment on the fact that the Popular Party remains "handcuffed" to Vox and feels "hostage" to the far right: "The PP's surrender to Vox has won; Feijóo has no future without Abascal," the party spokesperson, Montse, stated. Furthermore, despite the defeat, he denies that the Socialists are "finished and done for" and assures that the PSOE is "stronger than ever."

However, there is a usual suspect who rubs salt in the wound. Emiliano García-Page, the baron More critical of Pedro Sánchez, he calls on the PSOE to engage in "self-criticism" after the debacle and sends yet another poisoned dart to the Moncloa Palace: "Sometimes walls end up becoming barriers to winning or growing. In current politics, there's no shortage of excuses, alibis, and self-deception." Likewise, the president of Castilla-La Mancha acknowledges that the PP's victory has been "undeniable."

Crossed messages between the PP and Vox

Now all eyes are on the People's Party (PP) and Vox, and the possibility of a new agreement between the two parties. Initially, the PP is boasting that the results offer a scenario of "less dependence" on the far right, arguing that María Guardiola only needs an abstention to be invested as president and to pass the budget. But, at the same time, Santiago Abascal reminds the PP headquarters in Madrid (Génova) that they have doubled their results and warns that this is a figure they will use to their advantage if they enter the equation: "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." However, PP sources insist that "the deadlock has been reduced" and that the only way to derail the future PP government is for Vox to "vote with Podemos." Be that as it may, Abascal – who has refused to congratulate Guardiola – warns the PP that its voters cannot be "made invisible, nor betrayed," urges the PP candidate to "make a move" and, for the moment, does not reveal his demands: "The ball is in their court, we are not locked in and there is no other option."

Abascal said this while the PP was gathering its supporters. males At the party headquarters on Génova Street, they celebrated their victory. In a scene befitting a grand occasion—Feijóo greeting Guardiola at the entrance and the staff applauding—the Popular Party is attempting to portray the election results as a success. The PP leader has spoken of an "undeniable victory," and María Guardiola, of a "resounding one," despite falling four seats short of an absolute majority and still needing Vox's continued support—she called elections after failing to reach an agreement with the far-right party over the budget. The Popular Party candidate believes that bringing forward the elections "was worth it" and encourages Vox to make a "sensible interpretation" of the results. This invitation has not been well received by Abascal, who has attributed it to the "arrogance" of the baroness from the PP.

Feijóo believes the elections have been "clarifying," urging the far right and the PSOE not to make "capricious interpretations" and inviting Abascal's party 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. What is his opinion on the growth of the far-right party? He presented it—ironically—as a "great success" for the PSOE, which "has managed to make Vox and the PP grow," and urged the Socialists to "accept the failure of their narrative," based on "feeding fear" within Abascal's party: "The cliché of the right and the far right no longer holds water." Feijóo believes that the elections in Extremadura "triggered a domino effect that will not stop" and revealed an "irreversible decline" of the PSOE that "has only just begun." And Isabel Díaz Ayuso has joined in: she has mocked the PSOE's defeat and labeled Pedro Sánchez as "loserand of "professional election loser".