Pedro Sánchez calls for “a majoritarian agreement” in the first round of the Spanish investiture debate

Barcelona (CNA).- The investiture debate to invest a new Spanish President has started. This Tuesday, Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) leader Pedro Sánchez opened the first round of the debate and called on Spanish MPs to “leave Mr. Rajoy’s and the People’s Party’s politics behind” and reach “a majoritarian agreement”. Thus, “the change” that “the Spanish citizens demanded in the 20-D Spanish Elections” can be turned into a reality. The candidate to form government also stressed that PSOE “doesn’t aim to impose anything and has no red lines” in reference to alternative left Podemos, which has refused to support the agreement reached by PSOE and anti-Catalan nationalism Ciutadans. Sánchez is far from the 176 votes required to be invested on Wednesday, as he has only secured the 90 votes of his own party, 40 from Ciutadans and 1 from the Canary Coalition (CC).

Sánchez called for the other parties to leave the “reproaches” and addressed the progressive forces, especially Podemos, to warn them that “impositions” and “blackmailing” would only block the agreement. “We need to cede if we want to add, to reach agreements, and especially if we want to inspire in the people hope for change”, he stated. 

Although PSOE’s leader insisted on leaving behind PP’s politics and those of the Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, he admitted that his party would be willing to reach agreements with PP regarding “grand state politics”. In this vein, he offered PP his hand to “dialogue and reach agreements” in relation to “territorial integrity, reform of the Constitution and the unity of democrats in facing terrorism”.

“PSOE doesn’t demand anything, doesn’t aim to impose anything and has no red lines: only firm convictions” stated Sánchez.

Sánchez is far from the 176 votes required to be invested on Wednesday, as he has only secured the 90 votes of his own party, 40 from Ciutadans and 1 from the Canary Coalition. To be instated on Friday, he would need to receive more votes in favour than against, which is unlikely.