The president of the Episcopal Conference calls for elections, and Sánchez challenges him to run.

MadridAs has become customary in recent times, the president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, Luis Argüello, has once again launched an attack against the Spanish government. Aligning himself with the right wing, the head of the Spanish bishops has called for a "vote of confidence, a motion of no confidence, or elections" given the lack of support for Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. "The situation is even more deadlocked than in July, with a legislature without a budget," he said in an interview. The Vanguard"So I reiterate what I said in July: a vote of confidence, a motion of no confidence, or giving the people a voice. In other words, what the Constitution provides for," insists the president of the Episcopal Conference.

The head of the bishops denies that the request breaks "political neutrality," calls for other "strong pronouncements" on terrorism, abortion, and the nation, and reiterates that the current political moment is "unique." He rules out, however, making a collective statement as the Episcopal Conference. "No, because it's not really an issue that has ever been at the forefront of our reflection as a Conference, unlike other issues, such as housing or immigration," says the Archbishop of Valladolid, who has acknowledged having tense relations with Pedro Sánchez's government, marked by the Valley of the Fallen and reparations for the victims.

Spanish Prime Minister and PSOE leader Pedro Sánchez didn't mince words when responding to the head of the Spanish Church. "I tell you there's a fourth option: respect the election results, even if you don't like them," he retorted at a rally in Extremadura. Sánchez also said he finds it "curious" that when the right wing is in power, the bishops don't call for early elections but rather demand that the four-year term stipulated by the Constitution be respected.

Ironically, Sánchez encouraged him to run in the next general election, supported by the far-right association Christian Lawyers. "Let's see what results you get," he quipped. And he concluded, amidst applause from socialist party members and supporters: "The time when bishops interfered in politics ended when democracy began."

The Minister of Justice and head of government relations with the Church, Félix Bolaños, also wanted to make it clear in a letter that Argüello's "partisan pronouncements" are "not appropriate for a secular state." In the letter Bolaños sent to the Church leader, which ARA obtained, the minister admonished him for "once again breaking the political neutrality of the Church" with his statements. These words have also drawn criticism from the Archbishop of Tarragona and president of the Tarraconense Episcopal Conference, Joan Planellas, who said that Argüello's statements go "beyond what an archbishop can say." "I would be very prudent in making such statements," he said in statements to Catalunya Ràdio. The VanguardPlanellas believes he must be "very careful" because the Church "cannot identify itself with a specific political option." He also asked for a distinction to be made between what someone might say in their own name as a citizen and what is said "in the name of the Church or of the various pastors."

Sánchez admits "mistakes" in the sexual harassment cases

On the other hand, the Spanish president admitted that they may have "made mistakes" in the face of the avalanche of sexual harassment cases affecting the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party), but stressed that "it is worthwhile to govern, even in these circumstances," because "this government is in the best interest of the Spanish people." "We must have made mistakes, like everyone else. But we must always remember the most important thing, which is that all the rights and freedoms of women have come from women and the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party. All of them," he asserted from Cáceres at an event for the upcoming elections in Extremadura this Sunday. Sánchez emphasized that the PSOE acts "decisively" in cases of harassment or corruption, unlike the PP (People's Party), due to its "complicity" in the cases that affect them. "We are the first to promote this protocol, and we are doing so decisively and transparently. Just as with corruption, which is a betrayal of the Socialist Party and our principles, we act decisively and eradicate this case, while what we see on the right is complicity," he criticized. He then asked that people not forget that Feijóo is president of the PP because "Casado denounced Ayuso's corruption, and Feijóo's complicity led him to the party leadership." "But what lessons should they be giving us?" he exclaimed.

The PP accuses Sánchez's partners of cynicism

The PP's deputy secretary for institutional regeneration, Cuca Gamarra, has accused the PSOE's coalition partners, who are now criticizing her, of cynicism, saying that "they are the ones maintaining Sánchez's policies, and therefore they are the ones maintaining all that indignity of corruption." The criticisms from ERC and PNV against the Spanish government this SaturdayHe responded to all partners, including Sumar, that "they shouldn't think they will fool anyone simply with a message if, being able to change this government, they don't and sell themselves for a handful of gold coins."