From 12m ago
Sánchez to stay on as Spain’s prime minister
Pedro Sánchez, Spain’s prime minister, has announced that he staying on in his role.
His decision comes days after the Spanish leader abruptly announced he was considering resigning from office, after a Madrid court said it had opened an investigation into Sánchez’s wife, Begoña Gómez.
The investigation followed a complaint from the pressure group Manos Limpias (Clean Hands), which is known to have had links in the past to Spain’s far right.
In a dramatic speech this morning, Sánchez said he decided to continue as prime minister and called for a collective reflection, as well as cleaning up what he described as toxic practices in public life.
He called on Spanish society to become an example and inspiration for the world.
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Pedro Sánchez, Spain’s prime minister, has announced that he staying on in his role.
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His decision comes days after the Spanish leader abruptly announced he was considering resigning from office, after a Madrid court said it had opened an investigation into Sánchez’s wife, Begoña Gómez.
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The investigation followed a complaint from the pressure group Manos Limpias (Clean Hands), which is known to have had links in the past to Spain’s far right.
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In a dramatic speech this morning, Sánchez said he decided to continue as prime minister and called for a collective reflection, as well as cleaning up what he described as toxic practices in public life.
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He called on Spanish society to become an example and inspiration for the world.
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Spanish opposition parties have stepped up their attacks on the socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, as he prepares to announce whether he will resign.
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Sánchez accused his political opponents – chiefly Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the leader of the conservative People’s party (PP), and Santiago Abascal, the leader of the far-right Vox party – of “collaborating with a far-right digital galaxy and with Manos Limpias”.
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Ppposition parties have accused Sánchez of cynical manoeuvring, melodrama and self-obsession.
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“We citizens shouldn’t be the ones focusing on Sánchez’s navel; Sánchez should be focusing on the citizens,” Feijóo said on Saturday. “Mr Sánchez, the question isn’t whether being prime minister of Spain is worth it or not. The question is whether or not Spain deserves a prime minister like you.”
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Vox said the fact that Sánchez still had not resigned was “a democratic anomaly”, and that “Europe is asking itself how Sánchez can carry on being prime minister when his wife faces such serious allegations”.
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Good morning and welcome back to the Europe blog.
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Today we will be looking at the latest in Spain, where the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, is expected to make an announcement today about his future.
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Will he stay or will he go? Sánchez’s decision is being closely watched both in Spain and around Europe.
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On Wednesday night, Spain’s socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, abruptly announced he was cancelling his public duties for the rest of the week and considering resigning from office.
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He is expected to announce his decision today at approximately 11am CET.
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What prompted the shock announcement?
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Although Spanish politics has become increasingly polarised, personal and bitter over recent years, Sánchez said he had felt compelled to consider his position after what he called a baseless “harassment and bullying operation” conducted against him and his wife by political opponents and hostile sections of the rightwing and far-right media.
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The announcement came hours after a Madrid court said it had opened an investigation into Sánchez’s wife, Begoña Gómez, “for the alleged offence of influence peddling and corruption”. The investigation followed a complaint from the pressure group Manos Limpias (Clean Hands).
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Key events
Spanish media outlets are highlighting that no one knows which path Pedro Sánchez will choose.
Pedro Sánchez is expected to speak in a few minutes. Stay tuned.
Sam Jones
Pedro Sánchez’s big announcement will be an “institutional declaration”, which means a televised statement with no questions from the media.
He is set to speak in approximately 20 minutes.
Sam Jones
RTVE reports that Pedro Sánchez has already communicated his decision to the king.
Spanish opposition step up Sánchez attacks as PM decides on his future
Sam Jones
Spanish opposition parties have stepped up their attacks on the socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, as he prepares to announce whether he will resign.
Sánchez accused his political opponents – chiefly Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the leader of the conservative People’s party (PP), and Santiago Abascal, the leader of the far-right Vox party – of “collaborating with a far-right digital galaxy and with Manos Limpias”.
Ppposition parties have accused Sánchez of cynical manoeuvring, melodrama and self-obsession.
“We citizens shouldn’t be the ones focusing on Sánchez’s navel; Sánchez should be focusing on the citizens,” Feijóo said on Saturday. “Mr Sánchez, the question isn’t whether being prime minister of Spain is worth it or not. The question is whether or not Spain deserves a prime minister like you.”
Vox said the fact that Sánchez still had not resigned was “a democratic anomaly”, and that “Europe is asking itself how Sánchez can carry on being prime minister when his wife faces such serious allegations”.
Thousands of people gathered over the weekend to show their support for Pedro Sánchez and urge him to stay on as prime minister.
Ahead of today’s announcement, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the conservative People’s party (PP), criticised Spain’s socialist party for being focused on the future of its leadership and accused Pedro Sánchez of undermining democracy.
El que tiene un problema es Sánchez.
Cuando ataca a los jueces y a los periodistas el Gobierno dimite de la democracia. pic.twitter.com/S9X8MypyoX
— Alberto Núñez Feijóo (@NunezFeijoo) April 27, 2024
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El que tiene un problema es Sánchez.
Cuando ataca a los jueces y a los periodistas el Gobierno dimite de la democracia. pic.twitter.com/S9X8MypyoX
— Alberto Núñez Feijóo (@NunezFeijoo) April 27, 2024
Sam Jones
What’s next?
Now, there would appear to be three possible scenarios.
Sam Jones
Sánchez’s public letter last week – which he is understood to have written himself and without consulting his advisers – has been described by his allies as a deeply personal measure of last resort from a man sick of the attacks on his wife, which have escalated over recent years.
“Now that we’ve reached this point, the question I quite legitimately ask myself is: is it all worth it? I sincerely don’t know,” the prime minister wrote in his letter. “I need to stop and think about it.”
Sánchez insisted on his wife’s innocence and openly accused the conservative People’s party (PP) and the far-right Vox party of colluding with Manos Limpias and hostile sections of the media in an attempt to bring about his “personal and political collapse” by attacking his wife.
Carta a la ciudadanía. pic.twitter.com/c2nFxTXQTK
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) April 24, 2024
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Why is Spain’s prime minister considering resigning from office?
Sam Jones
On Wednesday night, Spain’s socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, abruptly announced he was cancelling his public duties for the rest of the week and considering resigning from office.
He is expected to announce his decision today at approximately 11am CET.
What prompted the shock announcement?
Although Spanish politics has become increasingly polarised, personal and bitter over recent years, Sánchez said he had felt compelled to consider his position after what he called a baseless “harassment and bullying operation” conducted against him and his wife by political opponents and hostile sections of the rightwing and far-right media.
The announcement came hours after a Madrid court said it had opened an investigation into Sánchez’s wife, Begoña Gómez, “for the alleged offence of influence peddling and corruption”. The investigation followed a complaint from the pressure group Manos Limpias (Clean Hands).
Welcome to the blog
Good morning and welcome back to the Europe blog.
Today we will be looking at the latest in Spain, where the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, is expected to make an announcement today about his future.
Will he stay or will he go? Sánchez’s decision is being closely watched both in Spain and around Europe.