Pedro Sánchez goes on the attack again. At a delicate moment, with demonstrations in the streets and a fundamental movement on the right trying to prevent his inauguration, the leader of the PSOE used his first speech to explain his project for the country, with a progressive policy, but beyond that, everything he has experienced is Clarity, the big elephant in the room: amnesty. Sánchez did not hide that he made this concession in order to have a government, but he justified it, thinking above all of progressive and moderate sectors that reject it, as a way to avoid a greater evil, namely that The extreme right, which is growing everywhere, is also coming to power in Spain.
Sánchez dedicated a large part of his speech to detailing what is happening in the autonomous governments of PP and Vox, the statements of far-right leaders and the advance that this type of populism is making around the world, especially in Europe To prevent them from reaching La Moncloa, it is worth taking the amnesty. “The circumstances are what they are,” he summarized. And moreover, the President explained, we must “make a virtue of necessity” and see that this forgiveness can also have a very positive impact on the conflict in Catalonia, which still awaits a solution after the trauma of the trial. “The PP recipe led to catastrophe in Catalonia. We are committed to dialogue and forgiveness,” he summarized as the PP and Vox benches moved indignantly.
The main reason for Sánchez’s majority and his unexpected electoral success on July 23, when many considered him politically dead, is the rejection of the far right. This is the great glue of the majority, and this was the central message of the PSOE’s election campaign, which succeeded in provoking an extraordinary mobilization of the left that brought Sánchez a million votes. And the president, in his inaugural address, tapped into that fundamental movement, that major current, to remind progressive and moderate voters who have doubts or who oppose amnesty why this concession is worth it in exchange for a progressive government.
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“We must commit to living together [y aprobar la amnistía] to consolidate the progress made over these four years. Let’s not be naive, the PP’s problem with Vox is not the amnesty, but that it does not accept the results of the polls. We know that the amnesty means very little to them. The economic powers that support them know that the amnesty will be good. What the right doesn’t want us to do is improve working conditions, so they don’t want us to govern. The last time the PP was in power in Spain, it was legal to fire a worker while he was sick. It was legal to pay a worker 700 euros a month while working full-time. They resulted in social housing being sold to vulture funds. It was legal to charge a drug co-payment. “That is why it is necessary that we continue to govern, to prevent Spain from backing down in the face of the reactionary wave that is advancing in all countries,” concluded the PSOE leader, to the applause of the socialist bank, which stood up, and with gestures from Support from MPs from the other majority groups.
That is the big political argument to justify the amnesty, although there is also the other one: the normalization of the situation in Catalonia. Sánchez has stated that he is against independence, that he is committed to unity, but that there are two ways to achieve it: “through coercion and tension or through dialogue and also forgiveness.” And the first option was already tried in 2017 and went wrong. “The PP has already tried this recipe. He succeeded in launching the independence movement, and the result was the greatest territorial and constitutional crisis in our democracy. “The PP recipe has led to disaster,” he shouted, while the PP party shouted at him for his support for the application of Article 155 of the Constitution: “You supported it!” Sánchez continued, without dwelling on this topic: “We have put reunification before revenge, unity before rupture.” And in these five years, the Constitution will be respected in all territories,” he concluded. However, more than that, the president believes that this decision will strengthen Spanish democracy and not weaken it, as the right says: “The amnesty will not be an attack on the constitution, but a test of its strength,” he even said.
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The popular deputy Esteban González Pons during the speech of candidate Sánchez this Wednesday in Congress. SUSANA VERA (Portal)
The part of the amnesty that Sánchez deliberately left for last was the most eagerly awaited and most eagerly watched part. But before that, the president had outlined all the key points of his government program, around the pact signed with Sumar, but with innovative announcements such as free public transport for young people and pensioners. The leader of the PSOE explained several progressive measures that he wants to implement, such as a shock plan against healthcare waiting lists, and compared them to what the PP and Vox governments are currently doing to convince his voters that the amnesty and the agreement with the independence supporters is worth it, even if it means important concessions and even the denial of what Sánchez himself said a few months ago.
Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the Popular Party, responds to Pedro Sánchez’s speech on the first day of the investiture debate of the socialist candidate, this Wednesday in the Chamber of Deputies. Claudio Alvarez
Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the PP, gives a response to Pedro Sánchez’s speech during the investiture debate that took place this Wednesday in Congress. Claudio Alvarez
PSOE candidate for investiture, Pedro Sánchez, and incumbent First Vice President, Nadia Calviño, watch as Alberto Núñez Feijóo goes on stage to respond to the socialist’s speech. Daniel Gonzalez (EFE)
Pedro Sánchez, PSOE candidate for inauguration, receives applause from the socialist bank and the incumbent government after his speech this Wednesday in Congress. Juan Carlos Hidalgo (EFE)
Sánchez receives applause from the Socialist Bank after his investiture speech.Claudio Alvarez 
Socialist candidate Pedro Sánchez smiles during his investiture speech. Claudio Alvarez 
The deputy of the Popular Party, Estebán González Pons, reacts to Pedro Sánchez’s speech. Manu Fernández (AP / LAPRESSE)
Sumar leader Yolanda Díaz applauds in her seat during Pedro Sánchez’s investiture speech. Javier Lizón (EFE)
Alberto Nuñez Feijóo, leader of the Popular Party, follows Pedro Sánchez’s investiture speech. SUSANA VERA (Portal)
Pedro Sánchez, during his speech as candidate for investiture.Claudio Alvarez 
The Volksbank follows Pedro Sánchez’s investiture speech this Wednesday in the House of Representatives. Claudio Alvarez 
Socialist candidate Pedro Sánchez during his investiture speech. Juan Carlos Hidalgo (EFE)
Customers at a bar in central Barcelona watch Pedro Sanchez’s investiture speech. Albert García
The Vox MPs Santiago Abascal, Pepa Millán and José M. Figaredo follow the investiture speech of Pedro Sánchez.Claudio Alvarez from their seats 
General view of the hall during the investiture speech by Pedro Sánchez.Claudio Alvarez 
The socialist candidate for investiture, Pedro Sánchez, upon his arrival at his seat.Claudio Alvarez 
Sánchez applauds his colleagues when he arrives in the hall. SUSANA VERA (Portal)
The leader of Sumar, Yolanda Díaz, arrives at the Congress of Deputies to participate in the first day of Pedro Sánchez’s investiture debate. JAVIER SORIANO (AFP)
Demonstrators protested against the amnesty in the Plaza de Neptuno, a few meters from the House of Representatives, during Pedro Sánchez’s investiture debate. SAMUEL SANCHEZ
Investiture candidate Pedro Sánchez arrives in the House of Representatives this Wednesday. Claudio Alvarez 
Begoña Gómez, wife of PSOE leader and investiture candidate Pedro Sánchez, in the chamber’s guest gallery. Juan Carlos Hidalgo (EFE)
The leader of the Popular Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, takes his place on the first day of Pedro Sánchez’s investiture debate. Juan Carlos Hidalgo (EFE)
Vox leader Santiago Abascal enters the room to attend the first day of Pedro Sánchez’s investiture debate. SUSANA VERA (Portal)
Pedro Sánchez, investiture candidate, arrives at Congress to take part in the first day of debate. Juan Carlos Hidalgo (EFE)
This Wednesday, demonstrators are raising slogans against Pedro Sánchez on the sidelines of the House of Representatives. Carlos Luján (Europa Press)
The deputy of the Junts per Catalunya, Miríam Nogueras (second from left), speaks in front of the House of Representatives.Samuel Sánchez
Socialist MPs Antonio Hernando (centre, left) and Óscar Puente (centre, right) talk in front of the doors of the House of Commons. Mariscal (EFE)
Deputies Sumar Águeda Micó (left) and Aina Vidal arrive at Congress.Mariscal (EFE)
The popular deputies Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo and Carlos García Adanero (center) speak in front of the doors of the Congress.Mariscal (EFE)
A man shows a Franco flag in front of the police device at the San Jerónimo race in Madrid this Wednesday. Samuel Sanchez
The parliamentary spokesman of the PP, Cuca Gamarra, before making statements to the Congress. Claudio Alvarez
The incumbent Foreign Ministers José Manuel Albares (center) and Industry Minister Héctor Gómez (right) in the congress environment before the start of the investiture session this Wednesday.Mariscal (EFE)
Minister of Territorial Policy and spokesperson for the incumbent government, Isabel Rodríguez, prepares to meet the press at the doors of the House of Commons. Marshal (EFE)
Fernando Grande-Marlaska, acting Interior Minister, upon his arrival at Congress. Marshal (EFE)
The police unit was deployed this Wednesday in front of the House of Representatives for the investiture session of Pedro Sánchez.Claudio Álvarez
Demonstrators of the San Jerónimo race in front of the House of Representatives. Samuel Sanchez
Members of the National Police in front of the House of Representatives, this Wednesday. Samuel Sanchez
Several demonstrators argue among themselves over the Spanish flags in front of Congress. Samuel Sanchez
The bus of the right-wing extremist club Hazte Oír drives through Plaza Neptuno in Madrid. ANA VARGAS (La presse)
The key point of the speech was that there are two options: let the right, to which he devoted much of his intervention as they grew increasingly outraged in the seats on this side of the hall, pass, or make concessions and get a new progressive government. “We have to decide whether we want to move forward, whether we want to pursue progressive policies or listen to the prophets of hate who want to lock women in kitchens. The right exudes racism, they deny climate change, they despise those who love differently than them, they enforce a unique way of being Spanish. “We are just as Spanish as you!” he shouted. As in the election campaign, Sánchez presents himself as a major brake on the right: “The only wall against the extreme right was the progressive coalition government in Spain.”
In fact, Sánchez’s opening was a background speech on the major currents in the world of this time, in which he explained that democracy must respond to all people who are afraid of the changes brought about by globalization, the ecological transition, the digital change etc. are caused. or democracy around the world could be in danger. Sánchez referred in particular to the elections in Argentina, in which the ultra Javier Milei could win this Sunday, who unexpectedly enjoys the support of Mariano Rajoy, who has signed a manifesto of support. “We must make it clear that Rajoy supports Milei. Milei has said that social justice is a deviation, that it is unfair because it implies differential treatment by the law. This was what the intellectual leader of the PP, Ms. Ayuso, had said a few months earlier, who said it was an invention of the left to promote envy.”
For this reason, Sánchez has proposed a progressive project that will give workers security to prevent them from falling into the hands of extreme right-wing tendencies. “Either democracy responds by providing security, or the legitimate feeling of insecurity turns into anger and ultimately undermines democracy itself.” Reactionary ideas parasitize the right in the US, the UK with Brexit and Argentina. This is the dilemma the world is facing. “Either democracy ensures security, or insecurity will end democracy,” concluded the president, putting the debate squarely at the center and preparing for a fierce confrontation with PP and Vox over the amnesty, which will mark the first day of a very complex investiture With 179 seats, a very large number with a transversal majority, there are already all signs of success this Thursday.
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