Feijóo explores a motion of no confidence and Sánchez's associates reject him.

The national president of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo , decided to make a move on Wednesday and asked his party's spokesperson in Congress, Miguel Tellado , to call all the groups that support the Government to explore whether they maintain their confidence in the Executive led by Pedro Sánchez. In this way, Feijóo wanted to capitalize on the reaction caused by the images of the former Secretary of Organization of the PSOE, Santos Cerdán, who was admitted to the Soto del Real prison (Madrid) last Monday after testifying before the judge investigating the Koldo case.

The announcement was made this morning by Feijóo himself on social media, who considered it "unsustainable" that after Cerdán "slept in prison," Sánchez remains willing to remain in power until 2027, the end of the current term. For this reason, he deemed it necessary to begin negotiations with all the parties that, in the fall of 2023, voted in favor of the PSOE leader's third investiture, with one exception: EH Bildu.

In any case, Feijóo was highly critical of these parties, whom he called an "obstacle" when it comes to "repairing so much decline." Hours later, and in the face of their outright refusal to negotiate, Tellado called them "jointly responsible" for Sánchez's continuation and warned them of the "damage" caused both to them and to all of Spain by "sustaining" a situation he described as "shameful."

ERC (Republican Left)—which has seven deputies—Unidas Podemos (which has four deputies who broke with Sumar and are part of the mixed group)—the PNV (Basque Nationalist Party) and its five seats, as well as the representative of the BNG (Nationalist Party) and the CC (Citizens of the Autonomous Community), all closed the door on the PP. The only exception was Junts (Junts), which threw a poisoned dart. Thus, Carles Puigdemont 's party expressed its willingness to engage in dialogue, although it put forward a condition unacceptable to the PP: that the negotiations take place abroad. This is a proposal that Tellado himself categorically ruled out.

"We are not like the PSOE" and "we will not do what we have criticized others for," stated the PP spokesperson, referring to the contacts the Socialists and Junts have maintained in recent years in countries such as Switzerland and Belgium. In these meetings, Santos Cerdán's participation was key to unblocking the negotiations.

Tellado's "mirror"

"No one will find us there; if we were as unscrupulous as the PSOE, Feijóo would have been president," Tellado proclaimed after winning the general elections held in July 2023. In a press conference from the Lower House, he was highly critical of the nationalist and leftist forces, since, faced with the "mirror" held up to them by the Popular Party, they have decided to "look the other way." Therefore, he asked them "if they think there is good corruption if it comes from a left-wing party."

"They have to choose: either break with Sánchez, or let his corruption break them as well," he proclaimed. He then criticized them for not being able to "distance themselves" from the Prime Minister, at a time when several figures in his inner circle are embroiled in various scandals. "If the sight of Cerdán entering Soto del Real in a police van doesn't disgust them, I don't know what else would have to happen for them to show a bit of dignity," the PP spokesperson declared.

Criticism of the PP was not limited to the parties that allowed the PSOE to retain power. Vox accused Feijóo of ignoring and belittling the ultra-conservative party. Thus, Santiago Abascal's party proclaimed that, if they didn't exist, "Feijóo would already be on his way to Waterloo," he said on social media.

The government again attempted yesterday to distance itself from those accused in the scheme that allegedly charged kickbacks in exchange for public contracts. "Seeing Mr. Santos Cerdán go to prison is a sight as heartbreaking as it is disappointing," acknowledged government spokesperson Pilar Alegría . She also proclaimed that the PSOE's accounts are clean and guaranteed that there was no irregular financing, despite the fact that the Supreme Court investigating judge who ordered Cerdán's imprisonment suggested a "million-dollar haul" in the bribery and bribery scheme, in which "other individuals and legal entities" were also allegedly involved.

Sumar, facing its new crisis

After Alegría asserted that none of them is the PSOE, Sumar made another show of force. The Minister of Social Rights, Consumption, and the 2030 Agenda, Pablo Bustinduy , demanded transparency from the Socialist wing "come what may," and the Second Vice President and Minister of Labor, Yolanda Díaz , went further. Thus, the Sumar leader also announced an "urgent" meeting with Sánchez following the "shame" of Cerdán's imprisonment. In any case, she again rejected early elections, beyond demanding that the PSOE provide "explanations" and undertake a "Copernican turn" that includes proactive, rather than reactive, regeneration measures.

With this speech, Yolanda Díaz attempted to navigate the severe crisis her political party is experiencing, which could worsen. Her main partner in the Valencian Community, Més Compromís , has just joined the mixed group, and two of its regional allies could join this decision: Chunta Aragonesista and the eco-sovereignists of Més per Mallorca.

The PNV calls the PP's initiative a "marketing operation."

The conversation held yesterday between the PP spokesperson in Congress, Miguel Tellado , and the PNV spokesperson, Maribel Vaquero , was brief, and, according to sources from the Basque party, the PP leader requested that there be a relationship between the two parties from now on.

The aforementioned sources explained that Vaquero acknowledged receipt and recalled the party's discontent after Tellado messaged the Basque spokesperson about his desire to hold a conversation, but before the conversation took place, he appeared before the media, demonstrating to the PNV that the announced round of talks with the groups that supported the investiture was a marketing strategy. For the PNV, this gesture, coupled with the PP's "attacks and accusations" against its members, was also a sign that the PP has no interest in seeking common ground between the two parties. However, Vaquero has agreed to speak with Tellado, he claims, out of parliamentary courtesy.

Another key player is Unidas Podemos , which ran in coalition with Sumar, but broke with them and now has four deputies in the mixed group. These are precisely the number Feijóo would need, but his general secretary, Ione Belarra, asserted that she has no ties with this party.

Junts and Waterloo

Junts has conditioned dialogue with the PP on a condition that makes any kind of contact unfeasible. Any meeting to explore national governance must take place abroad, and the presence of its leader, Carles Puigdemont, is essential.

This is precisely what the PSOE's organizational secretary , Santos Cerdán , has been doing throughout the current legislature, in which Junts holds the upper hand in Congress, given its seven parliamentarians are decisive. Cerdán met with the leader of the neo-Convergents in Belgium, where Carles Puigdemont fled after declaring independence.

Switzerland is also home to a verifier who must oversee compliance with the agreements reached since 2023, such as the drafting of the amnesty law or new transfers, such as the one on migration management. This position allows Junts to proclaim that there is "international mediation" in what they define as a "political conflict."

"If this escalates, it should be the people who decide the future of the country, not a party that has had, has, and will continue to have corruption cases," said Gabriel Rufián , the Republicans' spokesperson in Congress. For its part, the BNG "will not support under any circumstances" the PP's "partisan maneuvering."