Pedro Sánchez and Yolanda Díaz showed harmony and “collegialism” yesterday at the presentation of the coalition government agreement. In the negotiations for the investiture, all the focus has been on Junts’ demands – they are still working on them – and the rest seemed to have been left in the background. But in order to move forward, the pact with Sumar was necessary to dispel any doubts about the possibility of re-editing a new executive, unless the rest of the possible political allies are added. And so it has been.
The alliance was initialed, as it already happened in November 2019 with Pablo Iglesias, then leader of Podemos, with a warm embrace between Sánchez and Díaz. It seems that everything remains the same, but things are different now. The ministers of the purple area “absent themselves” and maintain their reservations about an agreement with which Sumar secures a place in the next government.
On paper, the 230 measures include progressive initiatives, such as the reduction of working hours – the major milestone of the agreement –, taxes on banking and large energy companies, the expansion of the public housing stock or regulation of tourist accommodation… It maintains the script started in the previous legislature with a program clearly slanted to the left that causes hives in the business and economic sector, but also, and this is not a minor fact, to other political formations of right that in a few days have to decide if they support Sánchez in the investiture.
The PNB has already clearly positioned itself to describe the coalition pact as an “invasion of competences” that “does not seem to be on the path of respect for the self-government of the autonomous communities and the development of their statutes”. The labor reform and the housing law have already opened a gap with the PNB and also with Junts and ERC, precisely because they stepped on the competence area. The truth is that many of the announced policies do not seem aimed at reconciling these differences and some formations fear that they may even end up having an economic impact on the autonomous coffers.
It will be difficult for Sanchez to square the circle. It’s not just about unblocking the most complicated pact of all with ERC and Junts at the helm, with aspirations that revolve around the national issue and amnesty for those accused of the process, also those of not leaving anyone behind. Parties located to the right of the PSOE that must support him at the investiture, but also throughout the legislature, if he starts to walk.
