The PSOE clings to the PP's setback in Andalusia: "Feijóo doesn't know how to stop the far-right"

BarcelonaThe PSOE seeks solace from the debacle in Andalusia, where it has secured 28 seats (two fewer) and the party's worst results in the region, in the PP's decline. At least that's how they're trying to spin it this Monday from Ferraz, where the emphasis is on Juanma Moreno Bonilla's loss of absolute majority and the fact that the Popular Party, once again, depends on Vox to govern. "In the last four regional elections, the main objective was to distance ourselves from Vox [...] It's a failure of Feijóo's strategy," stated Ferraz spokesperson Montse Mínguez in declarations to TVE. In her opinion, the PP's "bittersweet victory" demonstrates that "Feijóo doesn't know how to stop the far-right, but rather opens the door to institutions for them." Vox, in fact, has already warned that it will demand the application of the principle of national priority from the Popular Party if it wants to continue governing.

The socialists admit the poor result in what had been their great stronghold in Spain and make it clear that what's next is to engage in "constructive opposition." In this regard, Mínguez has closed the door, without explicitly stating it, to an abstention to facilitate Moreno Bonilla's investiture and prevent the extreme right from conditioning the Junta's policies. "The PP has gotten itself into this mess, and the PP will have to get out of it," she replied when directly asked about this possibility. In fact, despite the clear defeat of María Jesús Montero's candidacy, Mínguez defended that the results solidify the PSOE as the "progressive alternative force" in Andalusia.

Much less complacent has been the candidate herself, who has not refrained from self-criticism. "I am not happy," she said in an interview with SER, from where she admitted that she has not managed to mobilize the progressive electorate as Adelante Andalucía, the Andalusianist party that has gone from 2 to 8 representatives in the Andalusian parliament, has done. "They are much more effective with political communication," she said. Montero, in fact, attributed her defeat to a way of doing politics from the "21st century" to which the PSOE has not adapted, to the way "we address citizens," she summarized. She made it clear, however, that for now, she will lead the opposition in Andalusia, but has not guaranteed that she will do so for the entire term. "Many things happen in four years [.,..] I go minute by minute, game by game," she said.

The lead candidate of the ultras for Seville, Javier Cortés, has in fact already stated this Monday that his party will not ask for "seats", but that the national priority -"We will not ask for government"

The list leader of the ultras for Seville, Javier Cortés, has in fact already stated this Monday that his party will not ask for "seats", but rather that the national priority -central axis of the far-right to limit the rights of migrants- "be a reality". In statements to Canal Sur, he has expressed his conviction that Andalusians have asked at the polls for "less bipartisanship, less PP and PSOE" and "more Vox and national priority" to "end the effects of illegal immigration". "We are not asking for government, we will not ask for seats, we will not ask for vice-presidencies, nor will we ask for ministries; what we will ask for is a change in policies and for, from now on, national priority to be a reality," he reiterated, also placing tax cuts and strengthening security policies as priorities.

If the PSOE has no intention of sparing the PP the ordeal of passing through the sieve of the far-right, even less so will the rest of the parties to the left of the Socialists. "We are the opposition of the future to the PP and, of course, we will not make Mr. Moreno Bonilla president," stated Endavant Andalucía's candidate, José Ignacio García, on Canal Sur. The same reaction came from the head of the list for Por Andalucía, Antonio Maíllo (IU), after seeing how the coalition had to settle for the same 5 deputies in the Andalusian parliament: "We have had a very clear position. We have not flirted or dallied with the PP, and we will not do so," he said.