With a catchy title “A new political hope in Spain: the coalition agreement between the Spanish socialists and the radical left formation Sumar”, this article approaches current Spanish politics with an optimistic perspective.
After lengthy negotiations, the Spanish socialists finally managed to reach a coalition agreement with the radical left party Sumar. This agreement is essential for the return to power of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who now depends on the support of the Catalan separatists.
Acting Spanish Prime Minister and Secretary General of the Socialist Party, Pedro Sanchez, and Acting Labor Minister and Sumar founder, Yolanda Diaz, signed the agreement in Madrid, laying the foundations for a government of coalition.
This pact includes a set of measures including increases in the social housing stock, an upward revision of Spain’s climate targets and a tax reform aimed at increasing the contribution of banking and energy groups to state revenue. It also includes plans to combat youth unemployment, an increase in the minimum wage and a reduction in working hours without loss of pay.
Reducing working hours has been a key topic of negotiations, with Sumar demanding a 37.5 hour working week instead of the current 40 hours. This measure, according to the political party, will improve the country’s productivity, taking countries such as France as an example.
This coalition agreement paves the way for continued progress in Spain according to Pedro Sánchez, who has been in power since 2018 and who has governed in coalition with the far left since 2020.
However, the reappointment of Pedro Sánchez still depends on the support of several pro-independence parties. Catalan separatists, in particular, are demanding an amnesty for those responsible for the 2017 secession attempt. This demand is criticized by the right and the far right, and even within the Socialist Party.
The People’s Party, the main right-wing opposition party, downplays the importance of this agreement and emphasizes that the agreement has no value without the approval of Catalan separatists.
Pedro Sánchez’s inauguration vote in the Spanish Parliament is scheduled for November 27, and if he does not obtain the support of pro-independence parties by then, new elections will have to be held in January.
In conclusion, this coalition agreement between Spanish socialists and the radical left Sumar is an important step towards breaking the political impasse in Spain. It offers hope for a stable and progressive government for the years to come, while recognizing the challenges of negotiations with Catalan independence parties. The political fate of Pedro Sánchez therefore remains dependent on the will of the latter, and the outcome remains uncertain.