Pedro Sanchez achieve the endorsement of socialist militancy for its pacts with Sumar and the sovereigntist parties to form a government. 87% of the votes were affirmative in the internal, mandatory and binding consultation, to the question of whether “Do you support the agreement to form a government with Sumar and achieve the support of other political formations to achieve the necessary majority?” In the consultation 63.4% of the militants voted. 11.93% voted against. The 172,600 members with the right to vote, including both those of the PSOE and the PSC and their respective youth organizations, were able to vote electronically from last Monday to Friday and in person in their groups during the day this Saturday.
Regarding the PSC militancy, the yes has won with 85.4% and the participation has been 61.6% (7,909 members). 12.2% were against, 2.4% voted blank and 0.2% voted null.
Socialist militants have been able to go to the polls knowing the text of the agreement with ERC and their party’s intention to close an agreement with Junts on an amnesty law. Already last Saturday, when the consultation was activated, the general secretary of the socialists and acting president of the Government, Pedro Sanchezassured in his speech at the Federal Committee that “in the name of Spain, in the interest of Spain, in defense of coexistence between Spaniards, today I defend the amnesty in Catalonia for the events that occurred in the last decade.”
The majority of socialist leaders came this Saturday to vote in their respective groups, while Sánchez did so electronically on Friday morning.
Four years ago, the endorsement of the PSOE militancy for the coalition agreement with Unidas Podemos, prior to the investiture, was 92% and participation exceeded 63%. A total of 103,718 votes were then cast.. Unlike in 2019, this time the socialists have not only asked about whether or not they support the coalition agreement, but also about that of the rest of the political formations necessary to carry out the investiture. However, the controversial amnesty law has not been directly included in the question.
Old guard
The old guard of the party, led by the former president Felipe Gonzálezand the socialist president of Castilla-La Mancha, Emliano García-Page, They are the main critical voices within the organization with the amnesty law and the negotiation with the independentistas. He rest of the federations closed ranks around the general secretary at the last meeting of the highest body of the party between congresses.
The priority among all of them is to form a government and in Ferraz they compare the cost of agreeing on an amnesty law with that of pardoning the leaders imprisoned by the ‘procés’.
Sánchez had demanded his support from the militancy with the argument that stand “up to this responsibility” historical”. Through a letter sent to members, the acting President of the Executive referred to “a responsibility that, as on so many occasions in the past, we have to lead from our party.” Given the doubts about the risk of this operation, He concluded that he is “certain that time will prove us right.” Not only that, he insisted that “now Catalonia is ready for a total reunion, as evidenced by the fact that more than 80% of Catalan society asks to continue moving forward.” on this road.”
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The agreement with Junts is still not closed to unblock the investiture, after getting stuck in aspects of the articles of the amnesty law related to its scope. Despite everything, the interlocutors are optimistic and the desire of the socialists is to reach an agreement as soon as possible, after fitting the ERC piece.
The pressure of deadlines has been lifted from the PSOE and they are now avoiding talking about the investiture date, after encouraging the possibility of next week. The only deadline is November 27, when the Cortes would automatically be dissolved if a government is not formed beforehand.