Spain’s PM shocked everyone—including his own party—with his four-page letter to “the citizenry” on Wednesday, April 24th. The letter states that he needs “time to reflect” following corruption allegations made against his wife and because of the “right and far-right’s mudslinging”—referring to the People’s Party (PP) and VOX’s continuous criticism of his actions at the head of the government.
Sánchez seems trapped in the pincers of public opinion and political opposition. Overall pressure on him and his inner circle of ministers, trusted advisors, and loyal confidants is increasing rapidly. The names Koldo Garcia and José Luis Ábalos,, former leading lights of Sánchez’s shadow and public cabinets respectively, are already synonymous with major corruption scandals. But now it seems that it is the turn of Begoña, Sánchez’s wife, to take the walk to the scaffold. That is, if the PM does not do anything bold to prevent it.
Bold political moves are his specialty. Let us not forget that two years after he was expelled from his own party he was not only its president but also head of the Spanish government. Or that he called for snap general elections in July of last year—after disastrous regional elections for PSOE—obtaining a result sufficient for him to remain in power. This open letter seems to be yet another signature move of his, and his track record indicates that he often gets away with it. So we better watch out.
What is it then, that he is trying to get away with now? To the untrained eye, and after a literal reading of his letter, he seems to be a loving husband; a knight in shining armour, protecting his beloved. And also a victim of unfair attacks by ignoble and despicable enemies. However, there might also be much more at play here. In a nutshell, ‘Mr. Handsome’—as he is nicknamed at the EU institutions—may be looking at the presidency of the European Council as his next job.
For a few months now, some apparatchiks in La Moncloa and Brussels have been hinting at the fact that Sánchez is interested in a number of top EU positions—for which he would resign as Spanish prime minister come the summer of 2024. Such favourable timing would mean him leaving right after the Basque and Catalan regional elections, as well as the EU elections, due next June.
During his presidency, Sánchez has pulled off virtually every trick in the book and succeeded at it. He has sheltered some of the world’s most-wanted top officials from Venezuela with dozens of suitcases filled with… well, you will figure that out. He has changed decades of Spanish foreign policy towards Western Sahara and Morocco by presenting the former on a silver platter to the latter. He has managed to impose lockdown on every Spaniard despite it being ruled unconstitutional by the Spanish Constitutional court. Twice. He is a political survivor. It is no coincidence that his autobiography is titled Manual de Resistencia (Handbook for Resistance).
With Sánchez fleeing to Brussels, new elections would likely grant the Spanish government to PP, which would be heir to a very complicated domestic situation. Illegal immigration at a record high, the welfare state is technically defaulting, it has the EU’s highest unemployment rate … The most pressing issue, however, is that Catalonia would be in flames again. Over the past two years, Sánchez has appeased the separatist political parties that support his government. As a result, he has done much to ensure the amnesty of Catalan separatist political leaders who had committed crimes under Spanish law—such as holding an illegal self-determination referendum or proclaiming the Catalan Republic. He has even freed some of these criminals, sending them back home from prison.
Sánchez has made many promises on the secessionist front, but he has not delivered the most valuable item on this agenda: amnesty, which would apply to the self-proclaimed Catalan freedom-fighter Carles Puigdemont—currently in exile making a mockery of the ‘grandeur’ of European cooperation.
As a result, Sánchez might be able to reap the benefits of the amnesty but not pay the price. That would be extracted later on from PP, under threat of the streets of Barcelona burning again, as they did in 2017 and 2018. Therefore, a Sánchez trifecta could set the political clock back to 2017 with separatism and to 2011, with the Spanish economy. While the PP struggles with these burdens, the Socialists could comfortably enjoy popcorn on the sidelines, all while politically rearming.
Sánchez, of course, would be the one who maintained internal peace and never acted on the— incidentally illegal—promise of amnesty. The praise from his party and his European counterparts, would further conceal his Machiavellian nature.
As for his 5-day notice to the Spanish people and the entire world, he is testing public opinion and looking carefully at the responses of foes and friends alike to a plan set many months ago. Maybe he did not account for the First Lady speeding up his scheming schedule—or did he?
Pedro ‘The Improviser’ Aims for Europe
Ander Gillenea / AFP
Spain’s PM shocked everyone—including his own party—with his four-page letter to “the citizenry” on Wednesday, April 24th. The letter states that he needs “time to reflect” following corruption allegations made against his wife and because of the “right and far-right’s mudslinging”—referring to the People’s Party (PP) and VOX’s continuous criticism of his actions at the head of the government.
Sánchez seems trapped in the pincers of public opinion and political opposition. Overall pressure on him and his inner circle of ministers, trusted advisors, and loyal confidants is increasing rapidly. The names Koldo Garcia and José Luis Ábalos,, former leading lights of Sánchez’s shadow and public cabinets respectively, are already synonymous with major corruption scandals. But now it seems that it is the turn of Begoña, Sánchez’s wife, to take the walk to the scaffold. That is, if the PM does not do anything bold to prevent it.
Bold political moves are his specialty. Let us not forget that two years after he was expelled from his own party he was not only its president but also head of the Spanish government. Or that he called for snap general elections in July of last year—after disastrous regional elections for PSOE—obtaining a result sufficient for him to remain in power. This open letter seems to be yet another signature move of his, and his track record indicates that he often gets away with it. So we better watch out.
What is it then, that he is trying to get away with now? To the untrained eye, and after a literal reading of his letter, he seems to be a loving husband; a knight in shining armour, protecting his beloved. And also a victim of unfair attacks by ignoble and despicable enemies. However, there might also be much more at play here. In a nutshell, ‘Mr. Handsome’—as he is nicknamed at the EU institutions—may be looking at the presidency of the European Council as his next job.
For a few months now, some apparatchiks in La Moncloa and Brussels have been hinting at the fact that Sánchez is interested in a number of top EU positions—for which he would resign as Spanish prime minister come the summer of 2024. Such favourable timing would mean him leaving right after the Basque and Catalan regional elections, as well as the EU elections, due next June.
During his presidency, Sánchez has pulled off virtually every trick in the book and succeeded at it. He has sheltered some of the world’s most-wanted top officials from Venezuela with dozens of suitcases filled with… well, you will figure that out. He has changed decades of Spanish foreign policy towards Western Sahara and Morocco by presenting the former on a silver platter to the latter. He has managed to impose lockdown on every Spaniard despite it being ruled unconstitutional by the Spanish Constitutional court. Twice. He is a political survivor. It is no coincidence that his autobiography is titled Manual de Resistencia (Handbook for Resistance).
With Sánchez fleeing to Brussels, new elections would likely grant the Spanish government to PP, which would be heir to a very complicated domestic situation. Illegal immigration at a record high, the welfare state is technically defaulting, it has the EU’s highest unemployment rate … The most pressing issue, however, is that Catalonia would be in flames again. Over the past two years, Sánchez has appeased the separatist political parties that support his government. As a result, he has done much to ensure the amnesty of Catalan separatist political leaders who had committed crimes under Spanish law—such as holding an illegal self-determination referendum or proclaiming the Catalan Republic. He has even freed some of these criminals, sending them back home from prison.
Sánchez has made many promises on the secessionist front, but he has not delivered the most valuable item on this agenda: amnesty, which would apply to the self-proclaimed Catalan freedom-fighter Carles Puigdemont—currently in exile making a mockery of the ‘grandeur’ of European cooperation.
As a result, Sánchez might be able to reap the benefits of the amnesty but not pay the price. That would be extracted later on from PP, under threat of the streets of Barcelona burning again, as they did in 2017 and 2018. Therefore, a Sánchez trifecta could set the political clock back to 2017 with separatism and to 2011, with the Spanish economy. While the PP struggles with these burdens, the Socialists could comfortably enjoy popcorn on the sidelines, all while politically rearming.
Sánchez, of course, would be the one who maintained internal peace and never acted on the— incidentally illegal—promise of amnesty. The praise from his party and his European counterparts, would further conceal his Machiavellian nature.
As for his 5-day notice to the Spanish people and the entire world, he is testing public opinion and looking carefully at the responses of foes and friends alike to a plan set many months ago. Maybe he did not account for the First Lady speeding up his scheming schedule—or did he?
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