In the midst of the Catalan campaign and the countdown to the European elections on June 9th, Sumar is using its own agenda within the coalition government to increase pressure on several fronts in order to wake the government from its lethargy and compete for votes with the PSOE. The platform led by Vice President Yolanda Díaz has chosen to emphasize its differences with the PSOE on various current issues, such as the repeal of the gag law or the lowering of the majorities needed to renew the Judiciary, without waiting for the PP. Sumar is pushing for more action from its majority partner, urging the government to quickly recognize the State of Palestine in the Cabinet meeting this Tuesday or to reject a potential merger between BBVA and Sabadell. The cultural battle over bullfighting is perhaps the most significant initiative within this strategy, with the proposal to eliminate the National Bullfighting Award causing controversy.
One of the pressure fronts reinforced by Sumar in the past week is the Palestinian cause, historically a sensitive issue for the coalition’s minority partner, which President Pedro Sánchez has recently focused on. The Vice President urged Sánchez on Sunday to recognize the State of Palestine in the Cabinet meeting this Tuesday, coinciding with the seven-month anniversary of the start of the Gaza war and just before the General Assembly of the United Nations is set to vote on its recognition as a full-fledged state within the organization. Despite indications that the recognition will not happen this week, Sumar continues to press the PSOE to be prepared for the upcoming decision.
Following Pedro Sánchez’s return to the Catalan campaign criticizing “the powerful” and the “mud-slinging machine,” Vice President Díaz has raised concerns about the potential merger of BBVA with Banco Sabadell. She expressed worry about the risk of concentration in the banking sector, contrasting with the official stance of the Ministry of Economy. Sumar is seeking to make a “turning point” in the legislative term during President Sánchez’s break, pushing for the implementation of the Government’s agreement and going beyond it. The platform has revived proposals like the renewal of the General Council of the Judiciary without the PP and the repeal of the gag law, focusing on immediate action in these areas.
While publicly, leaders of the coalition avoid labeling Sánchez’s reflection as a strategic move, there is concern that the impact could benefit the PSOE at the polls. Some acknowledge that it has mobilized the PSC’s membership in Catalonia. With five days until the election, an opinion poll shows a drop in support for the Comuns Sumar candidacy, while Salvador Illa’s list is gaining momentum. Sumar attributes this to a concentration of the useful vote, but they fear that Sánchez’s actions could harm them in the upcoming European elections, where they have a lot at stake. Subscribe to continue reading and stay informed.
