The partners leave Sánchez alone in the face of right-wing attacks.

MadridPedro Sánchez is "affected" by the Santos Cerdán case, but he has no intention of throwing in the towel. However, although none of his parliamentary partners are currently willing to give him the final blow, Wednesday's control session in Congress has highlighted the Spanish Prime Minister's isolation in the face of right-wing attacks. The PP's strategy is to try to "collectivize responsibility" for the situation. alleged case of corruption that affects the PSOE and extend it to his parliamentary allies because they have not withdrawn their support despite the evidence against the party's former number three, former minister José Luis Ábalos, and his former advisor, Koldo García. Although in Génova they do not expect it to help them secure the four votes they need to succeed in a motion of censure, they do predict an unstoppable agony, even if it may be slower than they would like. "Ábalos was the beginning, but Cerdán will not be the end," warned Alberto Núñez Feijóo in his face-to-face with Sánchez. The PP threatens with new evidence that it may expose the Central Operative Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard and predicts that more audio recordings will emerge to which the rest of the plurinational majority will be linked for not having disassociated itself from the PSOE in time.

"We are talking about a report from the UCO with indications. There is no final sentence and The PSOE has assumed its responsibility and has acted forcefully. "in the face of a hard and painful blow, both politically and personally, for me," the Socialist leader defended himself, his attitude irritating some of his investiture allies, who tried to distance themselves. This is what the Republican spokesperson, Gabriel Rufián, did in an intervention full of reproaches in which he demanded guarantees. "Don't make us choose between cheap corrupt people and premium corrupt people, because in the end, what we're going to tell you is let the people decide. And don't hold us responsible for what happens to this government. The blame will be exclusively on the PSOE," he concluded. "I will not accept that you make a category out of the anecdote," Sánchez responded, with a reaction that even sources in the Spanish government have considered "unfortunate," since it seemed to downplay the Cerdán case. However, the same government sources remain unanimous in stating that "they are convinced. Sánchez," referring to Mr. Rajoy, referring to the papers of former PP treasurer Luis Bárcenas, and are confident that they will be able to get the mandate back on track.

A scenario that Podemos, on the other hand, questions. "The legislature is already dead," declared its leader, Ione Belarra, in the corridors of the Lower House. She reproached Sánchez for having entrenched himself in "the defense strategy of 'and you more'" with the PP and parliamentarians. She chose to counterattack by calling the Popular Party "an encyclopedia of corruption with regional chapters" and accusing Santiago Abascal's party of "hypocrisy." cum laudo"It's an indefensible attitude because it's an equally serious case, and downplaying it is a progressive solvent," criticized Belarra, who, while not willing to add Podemos's votes to those of the PP to hasten Sánchez's downfall, is also not willing to reach an agreement with the Socialists, which would leave the coalition government in 2027.

The round of contacts

After meeting with Sánchez for half an hour at Moncloa Palace, Rufián lowered his tone and called on parties to the left of the PSOE to avoid this deadlock and take advantage of "the time he has left" in the legislature to promote "social progress," such as intervening in the housing market. He also called for action against the "heart attacks" Sánchez has made. Sumar (Socialist Party) has also pressured the Socialists in this regard. The Minister of Social Rights, Pablo Bustinduy, demanded compliance with the coalition agreement with measures such as the universal childcare benefit and intervention in the housing market. Bustinduy and the Minister of Health, Mónica García, were the only Sumar ministers who attended the control session. Second Vice President Yolanda Díaz, as well as the Ministers of Culture and Youth and Children, Ernest Urtasun and Sira Rego, avoided appearances with Sánchez, in an attempt to distance themselves from the opposition, taking advantage of the fact that none of the three were scheduled to answer questions.

Rufián also declined to have his photo taken with Sánchez during the meeting. Neither did PNV spokesperson Maribel Vaquero. The Basque nationalists advocated acting with "prudence" while awaiting developments. For the time being, Vaquero has asked Sánchez to "exemplify, be transparent, and comply with the investiture pact." "We will not ask for any additional bonuses. We will not make a profit out of these very serious events," stated Vaquero, who saw Sánchez as "concerned," but convinced that There is no irregular financing in the PSOEEH Bildu, the only party with Junts to allow cameras to record the start of the meeting, called for "forcefulness" against corruption. Podemos and the BNG refused to even participate.

Cristina Valido, a deputy from the Canary Islands Coalition, who has ended the round of contacts, has warned the Spanish president that she cannot guarantee his support because the Cerdán case has caused them to lose confidence in him. The positioning of the plurinational majority groups gives Sánchez some leeway because none of them are changing blocs, but it leaves him under pressure to take further measures and the realization that relations are strained. Beyond compliance with the agreements, pending social initiatives and additional anti-corruption initiatives also require him, as they did yesterday, Tuesday, to appear in Congress to address the Cerdán case before July 9, the date proposed by the Spanish government, which all partners agree is too late.