The PSOE is aware that it needs Sumar to maintain the results of 2019 and in the environment of the vice president they recognize that the Socialists have to do well so as not to spend four years in opposition
that the only possibility of revalidate the coalition government pass by the mobilization of the greatest possible number of progressive voters It is something assumed by the PSOE and by Sumar, despite the tension within the coalition throughout the legislature. Under this premise, this electoral campaign has been conspired to avoid a scenario of hostilities that can demotivate the left. Pedro Sánchez and Yolanda Díaz promote a non-aggression strategyAware that they need each other, and far from disputing the vote, the candidates boast of their good relationship, an unusual display of affection in the middle of the race for the polls.
The electoral hangover in the PSOE after the bad results of May 28 led them, at first, to make a call for a useful vote to concentrate all the support of the left in its acronym. But, as he posted THE SPANISH NEWSPAPERfrom the Prensa Ibérica group, the president himself modified that initial approach and, after Díaz managed to close an agreement with Podemos and the ‘noise’ in that space dissipated, he imposed that “there would be no anti-Sumar campaign.”
At the beginning, Yolanda Díaz also opted for a tougher line towards the Socialists and in her first rallies around mid-June she issued a warning: “It is not right for us to approach the people saying that the economy is going well”, because, she pointed out, “people are having a bad time”. Which means that “heThe answer that has been given is useless”, highlighted a tough Díaz in front of the most triumphalist speech of Sánchez
That same week, Díaz criticized the president’s proposal to raise the SMI as “insufficient” and questioned Nadia Calviño’s measures on mortgage matters, proposing an emergency bonus of 1,000 euros for vulnerable households. He also did not hesitate to launch directly against the majority partner of the coalition when the Council of Ministers extended the social shield by eliminating the 2% limit on rent increases.
But these more critical positions have been lowered almost at the same time that Sánchez has skirted the appeal for a majority vote around the PSOE acronym. In the candidacy they deny that there is a verbal agreement between Díaz and Sánchez to reduce the level of attacks, but they admit that they need the Socialists to obtain good results to face the sum of the PP and Vox and, in the event that it is possible , play a decisive role in the preparation of an eventual progressive government.
In the socialist ranks they recognize the turn because they have to return to being complementary as in 2019. That Sumar revalidate at least the 35 seats that United We Can he achieved in 2019 and that the PSOE maintains itself without the PP taking too much distance from it, so that it does not benefit so much from the distribution of deputies.
Sánchez asks for the support of PP voters
For days it has been very perceptible that Sánchez does not confront Sumar. He has not done so in successive interviews in the media. Neither at the start of the campaign, nor at the presentation of the electoral program this Friday, despite the fact that he made a general request for support. “The July 23 elections are not just a contest between political parties,” he said. “What is decided is which direction Spain takes.”
The president asked for the vote “to those who have always trusted the PSOE” but accepted that “we need much more support.” He explicitly sought it out for us in the Sumar fishing ground. He appealed to voters “of other political options.” But the only party he cited is the PP. “I ask for the vote even of those who have voted for the PP and they feel ashamed of Feijoo’s pacts with Abascal. I know that many think differently from us on some issues. But the most important thing unites us all: that Spain advances and does not go backwards”.
The message makes sense. It does not seem formulated for the typical PP voter but for those who expected another behavior from Feijóo, instead of his endorsement of the pacts with the extreme right. Also for those who four years ago supported the PSOE and now thought to opt for the Galician leader. And even many of those who have supported Ciudadanos.
Socialists take it for granted that the useful vote will favor them in the smallest provinces, where it is distributed, three four or five deputies because in them neither Sumar has a presence nor options to compete. But they know that, in which six or seven seats are already at stake, it is essential that the Vice President and Minister of Labor repeat her results.
Sumar does not renounce those who are disenchanted with the president
In recent days, Díaz’s criticism has also faded to the point of disappearing, and the strategy has changed: from clashing with the PSOE to trying to attract your disenchanted voter. In Sumar they believe that they can be attractive to that bag of voters who in their day bet on Sánchez and who are now reluctant to vote for him again because it causes them rejection. This segment is a piece to be disputed and also one of the objectives of the PP.
But the competition for this group is raised without confrontation. The Sumar leader has no problem bringing up the good relationship she maintains with the Prime Minister, a link that could bring her closer to a part of the socialist electorate. That same Thursday, Díaz confessed to having lived in the Government “a great approach to a person who did not think it was like that”, while thanking that “in difficult moments such as the management of the pandemic, he had absolute confidence” in his department. “Our relationship is good, much better than other relationships that come from the same party,” he defended, implicitly referring to the economic vice president, Nadia Calviño What Díaz has not renounced is the reproaches against Calviño, with whom he maintains an open pulse and whom they consider to embody the most liberal wing of socialism.