A month and a half ago, the leader of the Socialist Party (PSOE) declared Carles Puigdemont a thing of the past. Even in his worst nightmares, Pedro Sánchez could not have imagined that, thanks to the results of the July 23 elections, the leader of the Catalan independence party Junts per Catalunya would have the power and guts to leave him – and all of Spain. waiting for the start of the court’s constitutional hearing, which starts at 10 a.m. next Thursday (one less in Portugal), to find out which way it goes. Without the support of some or all of the seven Junts deputies, the presidency of Congress could fall to the Popular Party. Worse, days later, he could derail Sánchez’s candidacy and force new elections.

During a meeting with the socialist parliamentary groups of the Congress and the Senate, Pedro Sánchez confirmed what was already known, namely his candidacy “to form a progressive government”, and took the opportunity to criticize the leader from the PP Alberto Núñez Feijóo and Wink at nationalists. “The PP still has a long way to go to decide what right it wants to have. And that road starts now, with something as basic as assuming that whoever has the most support rules in Spain,” he said after speaking to the denounced that the conservatives were pressuring the king to propose that Feijóo form a government.

The PP was the party with the most votes, with 137 deputies. They declared their support for the popular executive Vox (far right) and Navarra’s centre-right party UPN. All told, it gives 171 votes, while it needs 176 for a majority. Similar accounts on the left: the PSOE is guaranteed to add to its 121 seats the votes of more than 50 deputies, between the bloc on the left Sumar and the nationalist parties. The unknowns are in the only member of the Canary Coalition and in Junts. The vote for the presidency of Congress will make it possible to understand the extent to which Sánchez (and Sumar’s leader, Yolanda Díaz) is able to negotiate with those who want to sell their union at a very high price.

Puigdemont has been living in Belgium since the crisis caused by the 2017 independence referendum and is demanding a new plebiscite, this time within the law, in addition to an amnesty for all convicted Catalan leaders. Less than 24 hours before the vote, the MEP shows disbelief at the Madrid-based parties, demanding “verifiable facts” before voting. A position, he clarified, that applies to the presidency of Congress, but also to investiture.

At the aforementioned socialist meeting, Sánchez gave a signal to the nationalist parties. “Co-official languages ​​are a huge asset in our society. Spain speaks Castilian, but also Catalan, Basque and Galician,” the socialist secretary-general said before committing to promoting their use in European institutions, starting with Spanish Presidency. But the blink of an eye didn’t go down well. The Catalan Republican Left (ERC) recalled that the Sánchez government already committed to this measure a year ago. And finally, Oriol Junqueras’ party said there are no preconditions to support the PSOE’s candidacy for the presidency of Congress.

Indifferent to these movements and moods, Feijóo guaranteed he was ready to run for the head of government, but admitted that if he fails, new elections will be better for a “destructive government” of Sánchez.

Francina or Cuca at the head of the Congress

One of the first acts of the session of the Constitution of Cortes is the election by peers of the President of the Council of Congress. The third position in the hierarchy of the Spanish state has so far been occupied by the socialist Meritxell Batet.

Francina Armengol

Francina Armengol, a pharmacist by training, aged 52, began her rise to power a long time ago, from municipal clerk in Inca, Majorca, to president of the government of the Balearic Islands. She was the first woman in office and re-elected in 2019, but in May another woman – Marga Prohens, from the PP – received more votes and succeeded her. That is why she decided to continue her career in Madrid: in the elections in July she headed the PSOE list of the Balearic Islands. His candidacy is well received by both his left and the nationalist parties.

Cuca Gamarra

Just as Francesca is Francina’s real name, Maria Concepción is that of Cuca Gamarra, 48 years old. The lawyer and former mayor of Logroño – also the first woman in office – became spokesperson for the PP group in 2020, Pablo Casado was the leader. With Feijóo in the presidency, he began to build the position of General Secretary of the Conservative Party.

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