🔴 [NOW] PM Sánchez Says He's Staying
After a nail-biting weekend, Sánchez has announced during a televised speech this morning that he is not resigning.
By @IanMount and @AdrianBono | April 29, 2024 | Madrid | Breaking News
After almost five days of national uncertainty, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez appeared on national television today at 11 am to announce that he’s staying as Prime Minister of Spain despite attacks on his wife in the press and courts.
“I’ve decided to stay as the head of the Spanish government, even stronger if possible”, he said, as he asked for Spanish society to mobilize “against the politics of shame”.
“This isn’t about the fate of a particular leader. This is about the kind of society we want to be. Our country needs to reflect on this. For too long, we’ve been letting the mud pollute our public life”.
He stated that he is committed to “tireless work” for the “pending regeneration of our democracy and for the advance and consolidation of rights and liberties”. What exactly he means by that, we don’t know.
He also asked Spanish citizens to “go back to being an example”. “The ailments that affect us are part of a global movement. Let’s show the world how to defend democracy”.
Sánchez said that part of his decision was based on this weekend’s expressions of support from citizens and his party, even though he’s aware that “attacks against his family” will continue: “My wife and I know that this campaign to discredit us will not stop. We can take it.”
Sánchez, began by explaining that he needed to “stop and reflect”: “This letter was bewildering because it was not a political calculation. I’ve acknowledged before those who seek to break me, that it hurts to live these situations. I’ve acted from clear conviction. This is not an ideological matter”.
In other words, for now nothing’s changed. He’s staying. It was a fun ride and nothing to see here, go back to work.
Please don’t go. During the weekend, thousands of PSOE supporters bussed in from around the country gathered outside the PSOE HQ (on Saturday) and outside the Parliament building (on Sunday), calling for the PM to stay in office and fight.
“Total uncertainty”. By Monday morning, most of Spain’s leading newspapers continued to describe the sense of bewilderment surrounding cabinet members and government officials, as well as opposition leaders, journalists and, well, pretty much everyone else.
“No one knows anything”. Since posting his open letter on social media, the Prime Minister had gone dark. According to both El País and El Mundo, he hadn’t left his residence since Wednesday night and was only surrounded by family members. No late night strategic meetings, no conversations with advisers, no calls with ministers. Nothing. When he said this decision was personal, it looks like he meant it.
According to some government leaders, they only heard from him via text messages, when he briefly responded to thank them for their expressions of support.
The country’s top columnists also seemed unable to predict his decision, choosing to simply say there was a 50/50 chance and analyzing the different scenarios Spain could face today after the announcement.
Don’t miss this Thursday’s issue of The Tapa Newsletter, where we’ll be covering in detail today’s announcement by the PM and the shockwaves it’s sending throughout Spanish politics.
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