Now yes. With the support of an already agreed absolute majority, and the proposed amnesty law already registered, although with some last-minute tug-of-war and only with the signature of the PSOE, the investiture debate of Pedro Sánchez will be on November 15 and 16, as announced yesterday by the president of the Congress of Deputies, Francina Armengol.
After the failure of the investiture of the leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, certified in the second vote on September 29, it is now the turn of the general secretary of the PSOE, who – at least on paper and if nothing is twisted – has enough parliamentary majority to win re-election as president of the Spanish Government in the first ballot.
Sánchez’s investiture debate will begin on Wednesday, at 12 noon, with a speech in which the candidate will present his government program in front of the plenary, without a time limit, and will request the confidence of Congress. After a break, on Wednesday afternoon the speeches of the spokespersons of the parliamentary groups will begin, from more to less. Therefore, he will first take the word Feijóo. The interventions of the groups will resume on Thursday morning. And the first vote, which needs an absolute majority for a successful investiture, is scheduled for the afternoon of that same day. “On Thursday there will be a president of the Spanish Government, who will be Pedro Sánchez”, celebrated the acting Minister of the Presidency, Félix Bolaños, yesterday.
Armengol argued, after confirming the dates of the debate, agreed with Sánchez, that the socialist candidate, once the negotiations with the groups are closed, is ready to undergo the investiture. The absolute majority that he has guaranteed, despite the fact that it could not be reflected in the register of the amnesty law in Congress yesterday, will allow that, if there are no new setbacks, his re-election as president will be resolved in these two days. “They will be two great days for democracy”, Bolaños congratulated himself.
The PSOE already closed last week the necessary supports to win Sánchez’s investiture, by an absolute majority and, therefore, in the first ballot. In total, he has 179 votes in favor of his re-election. The yes block is made up of the socialist group (121 seats), Sumar (31), ERC (7), Junts (7), EH Bildu (6), the PNB (5), the BNG (1) and Coalició Canària ( 1). On the other hand, the block of no only adds 171 votes. They are those of the PP (137), the extreme right of Vox (33) and the Unió del Poble Navarrès (1).
As soon as Armengol informs the King of the result of the vote, and it is published with his signature in the BOE, Sánchez will take possession of the position. He will then announce the composition of his new coalition government. The new ministers will take up their positions from then on, so that the new Council of Ministers can meet on Tuesday.
