Having passed the 41st Federal Congress of Seville, the PSOE is now looking into the abyss of territorial renewal, the true objective for which Pedro Sánchez decided to accelerate the organic calendar. With a tremendously unstable political panorama, the socialist general secretary wanted to face the “pending duties”, that is, the replacement in the regional leaderships that – in his opinion – do not work, so that an alternative and competitive project can be proposed in the face of 2027. Also, place similar profiles in front of once critical bastions with the aim of controlling them. The last municipal and regional call meant a strong loss for the PSOE, which gave up high levels of power in favor of the PP. In some territories the result was improved and even won, but it was insufficient to confront the majority of the right. Currently, the socialists only govern in five communities: Asturias, Navarra, Catalonia, Castilla-La Mancha and the Basque Country (in coalition with the PNV). There are few federations in which internal fighting is not expected, some of them because they have already been resolving internal debates, while others are heading towards a winter of organic struggle.
The regional congresses that are already cascading will also be a thermometer to test the true pulse that beats in the PSOE, as they will provide the opportunity to the critical sector – which does not directly stand up to Pedro Sánchez – to present battle against their interposed profiles. The pawns that the President of the Government wants to place in the territories to control hitherto critical fiefdoms are already prepared and some cards are being revealed. Aragon is one of the jewels in the crown to conquer. After years suffering the scourge of Javier Lambán, his departure from politics opens a window of opportunity for Sánchez. The government spokesperson and Minister of Education, Pilar Alegría, took a “step forward” this weekend. From those around him they had been saying for weeks that “he will only go to the primaries to win” and the decision to jump into the pool anticipates that he has tested a sufficient height of water. Opposite will almost certainly be the president of the Zaragoza council, Juan Antonio Sánchez Quero, a “lambanista” profile who has the support of the critical sector. After the jump from the Council of Ministers and without primaries of Diana Morant – to the Valencian Community – and Órcar López – to the Community of Madrid – the pulse in Aragon is more turbulent.
The ministerable profile is also gaining strength in Andalusia. The all-powerful María Jesús Montero once again strongly enters the pools to replace Juan Espadas, after the name of Juan Francisco Serrano, Santos Cerdán’s right-hand man and national deputy for Jaén, was circulated in recent days. What was the electoral lung of socialism has run out of air and the need to present a strong candidacy against an imposing Juanma Moreno forces us to draw up a winning strategy. Espadas is on his way out, although he refuses to admit it, and his political sentence was certified in the Seville conclave, in which he suffered the disregard of his companions and of Sánchez himself, who avoided openly supporting him. The leader of the PSOE is aware of the “hole” that exists in Andalusia and is willing to cover it. The aspiration would be to avoid an open war in the primaries.
Another territory in the target due to the distancing of its leader is Castilla y León. Luis Tudanca openly positioned himself against the federal leadership, attempting a maneuver to advance his primaries against what was agreed with Ferraz and criticizing the movements to destabilize his candidacy. His attack of sincerity in an interview on “Más de Uno”, on Onda Cero, earned him the reproach of his party, his withdrawal to winter quarters and a sentence regarding his future: the management is clear that he will not repeat . The mayor of Soria, Carlos Martínez, is the best positioned to succeed him, according to sources consulted, because he has enough internal support to prevail in a primary, which will be held – according to Tudanca – to prevent the “divine finger” from deciding.
Also pay attention to the movements in Extremadura where there will be a battle. The general secretary, Miguel Ángel Gallardo, will face Esther Gutiérrez, former Minister of Education, both have presented the maximum number of endorsements and are now officially candidates. The internal process comes just nine months after Gallardo’s victory in the primaries, after the departure of Guillermo Fernández Vara, but his election has been a headache for Ferraz because he has exhibited a much more critical profile than his predecessor. Furthermore, his judicial horizon, being charged in the case against the brother of the President of the Government, has opened a space for an alternative candidacy. Just two days before the ballot box vote – on January 11 – Gallardo will have to testify before the judge.
A storm surge is also expected in Cantabria. The primaries from which its leader will emerge will be held in February and can be considered assured because the current general secretary of the party, Pablo Zuloaga, will once again appear in the process, and the idea is already hovering that he will not be the only one to attend, after the alternative candidacy to the Federal Congress of Seville sponsored by deputy Pedro Casares. Murcia is also no stranger to the internal struggle. José Vélez, similar to Ferraz, has had several competitors, which has ended up forcing his resignation in favor of a continuity candidacy that would be represented by Francisco Lucas, who also has the endorsement of Sánchez.
There will be less upheaval in La Rioja, where the mayor of Arnedo, Javier García, was already proclaimed last Monday as the new general secretary after Concha Andreu stepped aside. Ferraz also supports the continuity of the Minister of Territorial Policy, Ángel Víctor Torres, as general secretary of the party in the Canary Islands and of the president of Congress, Francina Armengol, in the Balearic Islands. Where it is governed or co-governed (Asturias, Navarra, Catalonia, Castilla-La Mancha and the Basque Country) there will also be no changes in leadership. Added to these are the regions where the succession issue has already been resolved: In Galicia and the Valencian Community, where there have already been extraordinary congresses, the commitment to José Ramón Gómez Besteiro and the Minister of Science, Diana Morant, respectively, is maintained, and in the Community of Madrid, with Óscar López after the abrupt departure of Juan Lobato.