After a brief pause caused by papal news linked to Leo XIV, Pedro Sánchez's Spanish government is once again coming under pressure because of the case involving former Socialist Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. The dispute surrounding the Plus Ultra affair and the million-euro valuation of jewelry seized from the former prime minister has hit the PSOE at a time when the party is facing broader tensions and corruption cases. El Pais ↗
Government allies are, for now, keeping the cabinet in place, mainly due to their refusal to cooperate with the far-right Vox. However, according to the concerns described, a potential charge of illegal financing could seriously jeopardize the rest of the parliamentary term. Zapatero, who used to be a historic pillar of support for the Socialists, has thus become a problematic figure for the party alongside Felipe González. González is criticized for his harsh stance toward Sánchez, while Zapatero is criticized over the current case. El Mundo ↗
The pressure is also affecting the debate over a possible succession to Sánchez. According to party sources, there is talk within the PSOE of a quiet, discreet move toward preparing a change, while the defeats of Montero and Alegría are weakening their positions in any future contest over succession. El Mundo ↗
The broader context is not favorable for the Socialists in Europe either. At the beginning of the century, nearly 70 percent of the European Union's population lived in countries led by prime ministers from the social-democratic camp; today that figure is about 10 percent, and among the 27 member states there are only three such leaders. Sánchez therefore remains a prominent, but increasingly burdened, figure of the European left. idnes.cz ↗
Sánchez's government under pressure following the Zapatero affair
This summary was generated by artificial intelligence. It may contain inaccuracies. Please verify information in the original sources below.
Sources (3)
Las derrotas electorales de Montero y Alegría "lastran" sus opciones en la carrera sucesoria de Sánchez
El Mundo
| 02:29 14.06.
La rosa enferma: ¿qué le ha pasado a la socialdemocracia europea?
El Pais
| 05:30 14.06.
De la lejanía de Felipe al ‘shock’ por ZP: la orfandad de “referentes históricos” del PSOE
El Pais
| 05:30 14.06.
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Former Spanish PM José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is set to testify at Spain's National Court on Wednesday, June 17, in the Plus Ultra case.
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