Spain’s fragile left-wing government has plunged deeper into crisis after several key allies declared the current legislature effectively ‘dead’.
It comes after the indictment of former prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero in the Plus Ultra airline loan case – which was just the latest corruption probe to hit the ruling PSOE party.
The latest political storm has intensified pressure on PM Pedro Sanchez, with coalition partners and regional allies openly questioning whether the government can survive until the next elections in 2027.
Podemos leader Ione Belarra said the legislature was already ‘dead’ before the Zapatero case emerged, but claimed the investigation had made the situation significantly worse for the government.
She accused the ruling PSOE of betraying voters and failing in the fight against corruption.
Belarra said: ‘The Socialist Party is proving that it is part of the problem, not part of the solution in the fight against corruption.’
Her comments echo similar warnings from other parliamentary allies including PNV, Junts per Catalunya and Coalicion Canaria.
Despite the growing criticism, Junts ruled out supporting a no-confidence motion against Sanchez for now.
Party spokeswoman Monica Sales described the situation as ‘complicated’ but insisted the issue of a no-confidence vote was ‘not currently on the table’.
However, Junts demanded ‘maximum transparency’ from PSOE over the mounting corruption cases surrounding the party.
The party also called for rapid judicial proceedings in the Plus Ultra case while continuing to demand explanations from the government.
Meanwhile, the PSOE’s junior coalition partner Sumar attempted to distance itself from Zapatero and insisted it still wants to continue governing through the remainder of the term.
Pressure also intensified from within PSOE itself.
Emiliano Garcia-Page warned the party was facing ‘the moment of greatest risk’ in its democratic history.
The Castilla-La Mancha president said the government should either call early elections or submit itself to a confidence vote in parliament following Zapatero’s indictment.
He described the case as ‘an enormous test’ for PSOE and admitted many within the party felt ‘deeply disappointed’.
The former socialist prime minister is under investigation over alleged links to the controversial state-backed loan granted to airline Plus Ultra during the pandemic.
PSOE has continued to insist on Zapatero’s presumption of innocence.
