PSOE won’t negotiate “Spain’s territorial integrity”

Barcelona (CNA).- The Spanish Socialist Party, PSOE, insisted on forming an alternative government to that of current Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy. PSOE’s leader, Pedro Sánchez, assured that his party “will do its utmost” to reach a “political majority” to constitute a “progressive and reformist” government but not “at any price”. “We won’t dialogue on questions such as territorial integrity” he warned and added that “the coexistence crisis in Catalonia will only be solved with a constitutional reform and not with a referendum on breaking Spain apart”. In relation to this, Sánchez assured that PSOE won’t reach any agreement with any party which supports a referendum, referring to alternative left Podemos, as it will be “the start of new breakdowns”. “We are for the right to decide but for all Spanish citizens”, he concluded.

“Nobody should have the slightest doubt that we defend and will defend Spain’s territorial integrity” he warned and assured that the Socialists won’t reach any agreement which would imply “breaking apart Spain’s society”. According to Sánchez, Podemos’ proposal to hold a referendum in Catalonia “will be the start of new breakdowns”. “The coexistence crisis in Catalonia will only be solved with a constitutional reform and not with a referendum on breaking Spain apart” he stated. 

“We won’t question the country we want to rule because we believe in the power of being united and in our cultural diversity” stated Sánchez. He assured that Spain’s diversity has to be a guarantee to promote “cohesion and not to foment division”. “Every time diversity has been denied we have gone backwards” he assured.

Sánchez insisted on his party’s “legitimate responsibility” to lead “the change” in Spain and offer “a government alternative” to PP. “PSOE will do its utmost[JA1] ” to reach a “political majority” to constitute a “progressive and reformist government”, he stated. He noted that now it is time for PP to try to find agreements and assured that the Socialists “will respect that”. According to Sánchez, calling new elections will be “a failure” as it will prove the “lack of dialogue ability” of the Spanish parties. “The brightest pages in Spain’s history have been written through dialogue” he concluded.

Podemos: “PSOE is not at the height of the moment”

Alternative left Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias urged PSOE to “stop play acting” and clarify if the Socialist will facilitate Rajoy’s presidency. Iglesias, whom met with Rajoy this Monday, assured that PSOE “is not at the height that this historical moment requires” and that “it is not Sánchez who rules in PSOE but the territorial influencers”.

During his meeting with Rajoy, Iglesias put the action plan to fight the “social emergency” as a priority, ahead of the territorial agreement and the celebration of a referendum in Catalonia.