Parties refocus messages before Spanish elections

Prime Minister and Socialist candidate Pedro Sánchez has refocused his messages on the problems of young people and women’s rights, while his rival and leader of the centre-right Partido Popular, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, is trying to woo “disaffected” Socialist voters and those on the fence ahead of the crucial election in just six days.

Over the weekend, Sánchez and Núñez Feijóo again traded accusations and reproaches, while Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz, the leader of Sumar, the new left-wing platform composed of 15 parties, expressed her hope of forming a coalition government with the Socialist Party (PSOE/S&D) after the elections on 23 July.

In only six days, Spanish voters will decide whether a left-wing coalition between PSOE and Sumar, which would replace Unidas Podemos as the junior coalition partner, will be in power or whether Spain opens a new political era with a right-wing coalition between PP and the far-right VOX (ECR) party.

According to fresh polls, neither the PSOE nor PP will obtain the 176 seats required to have an absolute majority in a 350-seat parliament.

While parties continue their campaigns on the radio, television, and spread their respective messages on street posters and social media, public broadcaster RTVE is preparing for Wednesday to host a debate between Sánchez, Díaz, and the controversial leader of VOX, Santiago Abascal. Núñez Feijóo declined the invitation to attend.

Attracting voters

Interest in the debate has increased as many are eager to see the clash that may take place between Sánchez and Abascal after the socialist candidate had warned of the danger of the far-right “monsters” of VOX, comparing Abascal to Donald Trump, Jair Bolsonaro and Viktor Orbán.

Candidates are now fighting for those still on the fence, as experts estimate that around 30% of voters decide who to vote for in the last hours before the elections. According to the latest polls, the highest percentage of undecided voters is youth.

Meanwhile, in an interview with El País published Sunday, Díaz said she was convinced her party, Sumar, will govern with PSOE, stating that this time around, a left-wing coalition will do things better and that women’s strength will be decisive in this election campaign.

“We women (…) are going to go out and win on 23 July, and we are going to take measures and public policies as we are doing”, she said.

“Progressives want a change for the better. And I’m not talking about management. I am talking about how we will walk in this coalition, how we will address Spanish society and how we will do things methodologically”, Díaz stressed.

At an election rally in Barcelona, Sánchez recalled the successes of the PSOE-Unidas Podemos coalition. She also underlined the commitment of the left-wing government – and the future PSOE-Sumar bloc – to a solution to the problems in Catalonia, without mentioning the word “referendum”, one of the big hot potatoes.

“I only ask for one last effort, and those who are undecided, (who) are clear that if they are going to vote, they are voting for the PSOE, look: one day to vote and four years of progress”, said Sánchez.

Sánchez openly showed his cards and his future “political compass”: if he does not reach the absolute majority, he will govern “with the party of Yolanda Díaz”, he stressed.

Speaking of PP, Sánchez said he was “ashamed” of PP possibly ruling with VOX, as they currently do in the Castilla y León region and in other regions and town councils.

PP calls for a ‘useful vote’ to govern alone

At an election rally in Zaragoza, Núñez Feijóo, for his party, reiterated his call on those unhappy with PSOE and the government to vote for his party.

As for “centrist and moderate” voters, he urged them to ensure PP gains a sufficient majority to govern alone, without having to rely on VOX.

Núñez Feijóo’s call was made even more obvious with a huge poster the PP hung on the Paseo de la Castellana in Madrid’s city centre. Without PP’s initials and with a striped background with the colours of Unidas Podemos (purple), PSOE (red), PP (blue) and green of VOX (green), the poster reads: “If you want a president who governs for everyone, vote Feijóo”.

“Voters who want change, whatever party they are from, have seen that it is possible to tell Sánchez the truth to his face”, the PP leader stressed, referring to the election debate on television on 10 July.

(Fernando Heller | EuroEFE.EURACTIV.es)