The internal debate within Sumar includes voices open to leaving the government.

Madrid / Brussels / BarcelonaThe relationship between the PSOE and Sumar is faltering at one of the most critical moments of the legislature, following the proliferation of alleged corruption and sexual harassment cases that are tarnishing and haunting the Socialists. "This crisis could be the last," acknowledges a member of parliament from Yolanda Díaz's group, who believes that either "changes are made" or the party will enter a "stagnation" in which "there will be no time to react" before the next elections. Sumar, in this sense, continues to demand a "reshuffle" of the government to face the remainder of the legislature, although for now they publicly reject leaving the government. However, there is internal debate, and one of the parties that make up this coalition, United Left, does not rule it out: "All scenarios are open." Sources consulted by ARA explain that there are already voices within this coalition advocating for leaving the government.

In this context, the PSOE and Sumar parties have scheduled a meeting for Friday – at a time and place yet to be announced – to discuss the legislative roadmap. On the eve of the meeting, a key date on the calendar, Pedro Sánchez sought to downplay the tensions with Sumar. Upon arriving at the European Council in Brussels, the Spanish Prime Minister acknowledged that both coalition partners have "disagreements" because they are "political organizations with different cultures," but that they "have many things in common," such as the "roadmap of progress" being implemented by the Moncloa Palace.

Speaking to reporters, members of United Left avoided taking a firm stance on a hypothetical exit from the Council of Ministers, resorting to metaphors: "The first bridge to cross is the meeting, which is the fundamental tool that must assess the next river. When we reach this river, let's keep pace and cross, we will cross, we will cross, we will cross, we will cross, we will cross, we will cross, and we will cross, we will cross, we will cross, we will cross, and when we leave, we will cross, we will cross, and when we leave, we will cross, we will cross, and when we leave, we will cross, we will cross, and when we leave, we will cross, we will cross, and when we leave, we will cross the river." Deputy Toni Valero said this Thursday. In his opinion, the PSOE "has not risen to the occasion" and he urged the Socialists not to act as if they were indifferent: "It would seem frivolous to me if they didn't take what we are proposing seriously."

United Left Does Unidas Podemos want to leave the government? Publicly, its main leaders deny it. "We don't want to break up the government," said Antonio Maíllo, the party's federal coordinator, on La 1. "Our whole intention is to remain in government, but it seems there's a sector of the PSOE that wants to take it away from us," Enrique Santiago, general secretary of the Communist Party, pointed out on Wednesday on Antena 3. However, some voices admit that "the ship is sinking."

"If there are no substantial measures, all scenarios are open," acknowledges a leader of United Left. These same voices admit that the hypothetical withdrawal from the Council of Ministers is a debate that should be addressed later. Furthermore, they leave open the possibility of a scenario in which only Sira Rego, the United Left minister in the Spanish government, would leave the executive branch: "United Left is there by the will of its organization and could leave by the will of its members and the organization." These doubts, however, do not exist in the circle of the Minister of Health and leader of Más Madrid, Mónica García, who categorically denies that she is considering leaving the Spanish government. "We are not contemplating it," emphasize the sources consulted by ARA. They believe that, by all accounts, it is necessary to remain in the Council of Ministers to "promote progressive public policies" as an antidote to the offensive of the right and the far right.

Shake-up in the cabinet

A week ago, Yolanda Díaz demanded a "radical overhaul" and a "profound change" in the cabinet from Pedro Sánchez. "This cannot continue; it's time to stop and take action," the Spanish government's second vice president stressed in an interview on La Sexta. However, first sources from La Moncloa and then the Spanish president himself responded. They closed the door"This government is doing an extraordinary job, every single minister, whether from the PSOE or Sumar," boasted the Spanish president on Monday. The Comuns party aligns itself with Yolanda Díaz's position and argues that the only way for the coalition government to finish its term is for the PSOE to push through a cabinet reshuffle. "The PSOE can't just do nothing," a party leader told ARA. However, the Comuns also admit they don't know the full extent of the alleged corruption and sexual harassment cases surrounding the Socialists. Therefore, they are committed to monitoring the situation closely in case more drastic measures are needed, and doing so in coordination with the other Sumar parties. What if the PSOE decides not to make any changes? No one is answering that question.

Podemos hits the nail on the head

Meanwhile, Podemos is lashing out at Sumar's role this legislative term and portraying Yolanda Díaz's party as a political project built to "accept the limits set" by the PSOE. The leader of Podemos, Ione Belarra, expects "absolutely nothing" from the meeting between the Socialists and Sumar: "A government that is politically dead cannot be fixed with scraps of paper," she declared. She argued that Pedro Sánchez "has thrown this legislative term in the trash" and "has squandered a golden opportunity" to continue the reforms of the previous term.