The PSOE is pampering its members to avoid a vote of confidence in Sánchez.

MadridThe PSOE is keeping its fingers crossed because, so far, no ally in Congress has stated that Pedro Sánchez should submit to a vote of confidence, with the sole exception of the deputy from the Canary Islands Coalition. In this regard, Sumar, Junts, Izquierda, EH Bildu, PNV, and Podemos have given the Spanish Prime Minister one last chance: the final straw is this Wednesday's appearance in the lower house, where Sánchez will present a series of anti-corruption measures "to regain the public's trust" after the address by the President, Félix Bolaños, this Monday at an event at the Ateneo de Madrid. In other words, this Wednesday's event is like a vote of confidence without being one formally, and the PSOE is trying to protect its allies, with the unknown price they will set.

In the Moncloa Palace, they admit that there's a lot at stake and understand the "pressure" positions of their partners. Therefore, Sánchez will adopt "the vast majority" of the measures proposed by Sumar, which will be represented in the debate by its leader, Yolanda Díaz. In other words, the Second Vice President will address Sánchez directly from the podium and, among other issues, will demand a boost in the social agenda. For example, extending paternity and maternity leave to 20 weeks. Those around the Spanish Prime Minister are reluctant to advance details of the initiatives and limit themselves to confirming that they will affect companies, institutions, and political parties—the three actors involved in the dance of corruption schemes. For the moment, those in the Moncloa Palace do not want to be placed in the situation where this Wednesday the conclusion emerges that Sánchez does not have the majority in Congress on his side.

And he himself has set the rules for whether or not to extend the legislature until 2027, even though in recent days he and many of his ministers have explained why they believe it should not be subject to a vote of confidence. "Strength and confidence are measured by votes in Congress. We've had more than 1,100 affirmative votes thanks to the parliamentary groups and we've passed 36 laws. And during July, we hope to pass another 7 laws," Moncloa spokesperson Pilar Alegría reiterated this Tuesday. If he passes the first test this Wednesday, then the second vote of confidence, without formally being one, will occur when the measures he announces to combat corruption must be voted on in the lower house. There are other initiatives, such as the reform of access to the judiciary, which the Spanish government will presumably postpone until after the summer because it currently lacks sufficient support.

One of the main obstacles to Sánchez's survival are the four Podemos deputies, already established in an electoral framework. "We are focused on building an alternative to the two-party system. The motion of no confidence and the vote of confidence are not going to solve the underlying problem, which is that the two-party system implies corruption," sources from the purple party told ARA. Basically, the PSOE leader rules out submitting to a vote of confidence for the time being because he knows he would not pass it, given the key votes of Podemos and that of former minister José Luis Ábalos, who remains in the mixed group.

Puigdemont's silence

Junts' approach since the Cerdán case broke has been to maintain a low communication profile and give the PSOE time to recover and present a plan to fulfill its legislative commitments, such as the Catalan issue in Europe, which will be discussed at the European Union General Affairs Council on July 18. It is symptomatic, in this sense, that former President Carles Puigdemont has avoided commenting on the Cerdán case since it broke, despite the fact that the former number three of the PSOE was his interlocutor in the meetings in Switzerland with the mediator, along with former President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.

Now, sources from Junts do want to raise the tone in view of Wednesday's appearance, as they demand that he specify how he intends to continue the legislature: on the one hand, the measures to combat corruption and, on the other, how he will comply with the pending agreements, such as the new transfer of powers in immigration in line with the economic agreement - reports Núria Orriols GuiuTo move forward, the members of the board now have no interlocutor: some sources suggest that it should be Paco Salazar, who has folded due to accusations of sexism —the dismissal was made official this Tuesday—, and they are waiting to see if it is the new secretary of organization, Rebeca Torró, who takes the reins. From Junts they have only set one condition to the socialists: that they have a direct connection with the Moncloa and that what is agreed in Switzerland has a direct translation in Congress. Therefore, they demand someone with influence within the PSOE.

Other allies such as ERC believe that Sánchez's appearance comes late and demand, among other issues, a ban on construction companies implicated in corruption that cannot be awarded contracts, an initiative that the Spanish president is expected to announce. The Republicans maintain that corruption is a "red line," but they also admit that they will not promote any gesture that would provoke a change of government, for now. The Republicans also demand that the Socialists comply with the signed agreements, although they acknowledge the difficult situation facing the PSOE. For this reason, they gave the Socialists more time to convene the bilateral commission that should specify the new financing for Catalonia.Mireia Esteve reports.

For its part, the PNV (Basque Nationalist Party) expects "sincere" explanations from the head of the State's executive and clarification of why he removed Ábalos from the ministry and as the PSOE's number three in July 2021, as its president, Aitor Esteban, stated last week. Aside from Coalición Canaria, Compromís MP Àgueda Micó is also considering demanding a vote of confidence. For some, the scarecrow of the right and the far right is no longer useful, and Sánchez is aware that he needs to regain their trust. Therefore, in recent hours, the PSOE has made an effort to remind everyone that all the progress and transformations of recent years have been achieved thanks to its parliamentary allies.

Illa will appear in Parliament on July 22.

At the same time, the president of the Generalitat (Catalan government), Salvador Illa, will appear during the plenary session of the Parliament, which begins on July 22, to explain the "Cerdán case." The Catalan government announced this to the Catalan parliament on Tuesday in response to requests from Junts, Vox, and the PP.