The spokesman for the Socialist Group in Congress, Hector Gomez, He has recognized that “he does not like” that members of United We Can join positions contrary to government policies, but has stressed that they are two different parties with different sensitivities. In any case, he does not question the stability of the coalition Executive and continues to bet on exhausting the legislature.
In statements to Europa Press, Héctor Gómez, has indicated that PSOE and Podemos form the first coalition government of democracy at the head of the State, but they are formations “with different sensitivities and approaches that do not coincide”, and that these differences are tried to be resolved through dialogue in the parliamentary sphere.
“There’s always a co-working space and, for certain initiatives that could come out unilaterally, there is always the channel for dialogue,” he explains, underlining his “good relationship” with the spokesman for United We Can, Pablo Echenique.
exhaust the legislature
According to the socialist spokesman, the goal is “continue to strengthen the coalition“, consolidate the Government and exhaust the legislature, provide stability to the institutions and make decisions and legislate, “regardless” of whether there are points on which the two parties do not agree.
And, in any case, remember that the PP criticizes these divergences but “wherever it governs, before with Ciudadanos and now with Vox, it is characterized by the instability“, dissolving their regional executives to try to get political revenue as in Madrid and Castilla y León.
Asked about the fact that United We Can participate in demonstrations against the Government, as it has done in recent weeks on issues such as climate change, the Sahara or housing, Héctor Gómez acknowledged that “obviously it is clear that he does not like to see positions contrary to measures of success” of the Executive, such as environmental policy, Iberian exception in energy or foreign policy.
And regarding the unilateral initiatives of United We Can in the matter of Finance, such as its recipes for tax reform that were already rejected by the PSOE or the recent law for a large fortune tax pending debate, the spokesman for the Socialist Group stressed that in this matter “the line is established by the Ministry of María Jesús Montero, who has been working for some time”, and whose guidelines her party will follow.
For the political reforms that are currently parked, the PSOE maintains that there is “flexibility” on the part of the Government to seek agreements, but they need “Will” by the groups. “Of course we would like to have groups that are up to the challenge, but this is the scenario,” he stressed.
Rodriguez’s seat
On the other hand, Héctor Gómez trusts that, in this context of tight voting in Congress, United We Can proceed to fill the vacancy of Alberto Rodríguez, who lost the seat in October 2021 after being convicted by the Supreme Court.
“It is something that we have talked about, that corresponds to United We can manage and we know they are working in that direction,” he explained. We hope they can resolve it as soon as possible.”
Neither does he think about the fact that United We Can maintain as deputy spokesman in Congress, with interventions in commissions and plenary sessions, a deputy who at the same time occupies a Secretary of State in the Government, as Henry Santiagosecretary of the 2030 Agenda and also parliamentary spokesman for IU and general secretary of the PCE: “These are decisions of the groups that we respect and abide by,” he pointed out, recalling that there is no legal incompatibility.
In any case, and although he refers to the regime of incompatibilities in force, he understands that the deputies should dedicate themselves “fully” to their parliamentary activitywhich in his case is no less than twelve or fourteen hours a day.