CARETAKER president Pedro Sánchez has drawn up a programme of 370 measures which he describes as 'very left-wing' and which will hopefully please independent party Podemos – but has ruled out any possibility of a coalition or of Pablo Iglesias' team taking on roles of major responsibility within his government.
Concerns are increasing that the socialist (PSOE) leader may wind up calling a fresh general election if he and Iglesias cannot reach a meeting of minds – in fact, Sánchez, who won the April election but in a minority, has even said he may not present himself at the September 23 investiture ceremony if he cannot guarantee enough votes in his favour.
The main stumbling blocks between the PSOE and left-wing Podemos have been the latter's level of involvement – Iglesias turned down the offer of three ministries and a deputy presidency for his wife and spokeswoman Irene Montero, currently on maternity leave – and the issue of Catalunya's drive for secession.
Whilst Podemos believes in the right to self-determination and believes the politicians from the north-eastern region currently in jail for organising a disputed independence referendum are 'political prisoners', the PSOE is against allowing a referendum or any other action that may 'threaten the unity of Spain', since this 'goes against the Spanish Constitution', signed in 1978 and not updated since.
Iglesias believes allowing Catalunya more freedom and being open to their wishes would eradicate the 'us-and-them' feeling the region has about the Spanish State, and would likely lead to a referendum deciding to remain as one of its 17 autonomously-governed regions.
He has offered to relax his demand for a legal referendum, replacing it with a 'round table' for discussion about why Catalunya wants to break away, and what can be done to make them want to stay.
Pedro Sánchez has reduced his original offer of Podemos' involvement in State affairs, and it is not clear whether this will lead to another stalemate.
He says there are 'plenty of very relevant institutions' outside the Council of Ministers which would contribute to the governing of the country and which Podemos could take on – such as rôles 'comparable to' Secretary of State in the National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMV), or other 'legal or social roles, from economy to energy', but which would not include foreign affairs, the ministry for the economy or defence.
Podemos has yet to comment on the latest offer, but unless it agrees enough to decide to vote 'yes' to Sánchez on September 23, his second attempt at becoming invested as president will fail and a fresh election will be needed.
