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Sánchez Loses Bid to Form a Government, Prolonging Deadlock in Spain Sánchez Loses Bid to Form a Government, Prolonging Deadlock in Spain
(about 2 hours later)
MADRID — The Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, lost a bid to form a government on Thursday after failing to form a multiparty alliance, raising the chances that the country will be forced to hold another national election to try to break the political deadlock. MADRID — The Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, lost a bid to form a government on Thursday after failing to make a multiparty alliance, raising the chances that the country will be forced to hold another national election to try to break the political deadlock.
Mr. Sánchez and his Socialist Party won a national election in April that was hailed as a victory for Europe’s embattled left but fell well short of an absolute majority in Parliament at a time of deepening fragmentation and polarization in Spanish politics. While leading a caretaker administration, Mr. Sánchez has sought the support of some smaller parties, but the most recent talks with the other major left-wing party, Unidas Podemos, broke down overnight. Mr. Sánchez and his Socialist Party won a national election in April that was hailed as a victory for Europe’s embattled left, but fell well short of an absolute majority in Parliament at a time of deepening fragmentation and polarization in Spanish politics. While leading a caretaker administration, Mr. Sánchez has sought the support of some smaller parties, but the most recent talks with the other major left-wing party, Unidas Podemos, broke down overnight.
The Parliament voted 124 to 155 against him on Thursday, with 67 lawmakers abstaining. It was the second time this week that Mr. Sánchez failed to be accepted as prime minister, after losing an initial vote on Tuesday. The Parliament voted 124 to 155 against re-electing him on Thursday, with 67 lawmakers abstaining. It was the second time this week that Mr. Sánchez failed to be accepted as prime minister, having lost an initial vote on Tuesday.
The Spanish stalemate has been closely monitored by the country’s partners in the European Union, where the rise of nationalist, populist and far-right movements has strained the bonds within the bloc, weakened traditionally dominant parties and splintered political power in many nations.The Spanish stalemate has been closely monitored by the country’s partners in the European Union, where the rise of nationalist, populist and far-right movements has strained the bonds within the bloc, weakened traditionally dominant parties and splintered political power in many nations.
The fate of Mr. Sánchez is of particular interest to President Emmanuel Macron of France, who has fought the euroskeptic tide, calling for closer European integration — even as the European Union is bracing for Britain’s departure from the bloc.The fate of Mr. Sánchez is of particular interest to President Emmanuel Macron of France, who has fought the euroskeptic tide, calling for closer European integration — even as the European Union is bracing for Britain’s departure from the bloc.
Mr. Macron, a centrist, has seen Mr. Sánchez, who has emerged as the bloc’s most prominent Socialist, as a crucial ally in his pro-Europe campaign. In May, the president invited the Spanish leader to dinner in Paris, to reinforce the idea that Spain should play a stronger role in the European Union.Mr. Macron, a centrist, has seen Mr. Sánchez, who has emerged as the bloc’s most prominent Socialist, as a crucial ally in his pro-Europe campaign. In May, the president invited the Spanish leader to dinner in Paris, to reinforce the idea that Spain should play a stronger role in the European Union.
Mr. Sánchez could hold another vote in Parliament in September, after the summer recess, before being forced to call a new national election, which would be held in November. It would be Spain’s fourth general election in four years, and there is no guarantee that the result would help end the political gridlock.Mr. Sánchez could hold another vote in Parliament in September, after the summer recess, before being forced to call a new national election, which would be held in November. It would be Spain’s fourth general election in four years, and there is no guarantee that the result would help end the political gridlock.
Spain spent 10 months in political limbo in 2016, after two inconclusive elections left its politicians squabbling and unable to form a government. One of Mr. Sánchez’s recent aims has been to change the rules for government formation, to avoid the paralysis that has plagued the country.Spain spent 10 months in political limbo in 2016, after two inconclusive elections left its politicians squabbling and unable to form a government. One of Mr. Sánchez’s recent aims has been to change the rules for government formation, to avoid the paralysis that has plagued the country.
The vote on Thursday took place after a breakdown in coalition talks between the Socialists and Unidas Podemos, a left-wing party that had sought control of several ministries in the next cabinet in return for supporting Mr. Sánchez. He insisted that Unidas Podemos could not be treated as an equal partner. The vote on Thursday took place after a breakdown in coalition talks between the Socialists and Unidas Podemos, a left-wing party that had sought control of several ministries in the next cabinet in return for supporting Mr. Sánchez. The prime minister insisted that Unidas Podemos could not be treated as an equal partner.
Before the vote on Thursday, Mr. Sánchez and Mr. Iglesias traded recriminations during the parliamentary session. Mr. Sánchez accused Mr. Iglesias of playing into the hands of right-wing parties by blocking his investiture, after presenting ministerial demands that amounted to an attempted government takeover, according to Mr. Sánchez. Mr. Iglesias and his party “wanted to enter into the government in order to control the government,” Mr. Sánchez said. “It made sense to have a plural government — but under a single, coherent leadership.” Before the vote in Parliament on Thursday, the two party leaders traded recriminations. Mr. Sánchez accused Pablo Iglesias, the Unidas Podemos leader, of playing into the hands of right-wing parties by blocking his re-election.
In response, Mr. Iglesias said that Mr. Sánchez had failed to show his party sufficient respect as a government partner, after Unidas Podemos helped Mr. Sánchez become prime minister in 2018 “in return for nothing.” Mr. Iglesias and his party “wanted to enter into the government in order to control the government,” making demands that amounted to an attempted takeover, Mr. Sánchez said. “It made sense to have a plural government — but under a single, coherent leadership.”
Several party leaders warned during their speeches in Parliament that voters would not understand how their politicians had once more spent months squabbling to no avail over how to form a government. Pablo Casado, the leader of the Popular Party, told Parliament that Mr. Sánchez’s failed coalition negotiations amounted to “one of the most lamentable pages in the recent history of Spanish democracy.” He said Mr. Sánchez and his possible allies had submitted Spaniards to “a shameful spectacle,” in which personal vanity prevailed over statesmanship. In response, Mr. Iglesias said that Mr. Sánchez had failed to show Unidas Podemos sufficient respect as a possible governing partner, after Unidas Podemos had helped Mr. Sánchez become prime minister in 2018 “in return for nothing.”
To have a realistic chance of winning Parliament’s support in September, Mr. Sánchez would need a major breakthrough, winning the cooperation of Podemos and some lawmakers from other parties. Mr. Iglesias told Mr. Sánchez on Thursday that he was willing to hold further talks: “Don’t let Spaniards into other elections,” he said. Several prominent lawmakers, speaking in Parliament, warned that voters would not understand how their politicians had once more spent months squabbling to no avail over how to form a government.
Pablo Casado, the leader of the conservative Popular Party, told Parliament that Mr. Sánchez’s failed coalition negotiations amounted to “one of the most lamentable pages in the recent history of Spanish democracy.” He said that Mr. Sánchez and his possible allies had submitted Spaniards to “a shameful spectacle,” in which personal vanity prevailed over statesmanship.
To have a realistic chance of winning Parliament’s support in September, Mr. Sánchez would need a major breakthrough, winning the cooperation of Unidas Podemos and some lawmakers from other parties. Mr. Iglesias told Mr. Sánchez on Thursday that he was willing to hold further talks, adding, “Don’t lead Spaniards into other elections.”
In the April election, the Socialists won 123 of the 350 seats in Parliament, nearly twice as many as any other party, but also far short of a majority. Unidas Podemos won 42.In the April election, the Socialists won 123 of the 350 seats in Parliament, nearly twice as many as any other party, but also far short of a majority. Unidas Podemos won 42.
The conservative Popular Party, which led the government from 2011 to 2018, placed second, with 66 seats. The Popular Party, which led the government from 2011 to 2018, placed second, with 66 seats.
After the April vote, Mr. Sánchez initially argued that his Socialist party had received enough of an endorsement from voters to govern on its own, but other parties objected, forcing him to try to assemble a coalition.
As the deadline to strike a deal drew closer, Mr. Sánchez entered into an open feud with Mr. Iglesias over whether Mr. Iglesias should hold a post in the next government. Mr. Iglesias agreed to step aside last Friday, the talks collapsed after a disagreement over which ministries his party might control.
Aitor Esteban, a leader of a Basque nationalist party, lambasted Mr. Sánchez on Thursday for his negotiation strategy, and advised him to make better use of the next two months to avoid a repeat election.
“You have been wasting time thinking that you had a strength that you didn’t have,” Mr. Esteban told the prime minister in Parliament. “I refuse to believe that we cannot create the conditions to form a government.”
Gerardo Pisarello, a lawmaker from Unidas Podemos, told La Sexta, a television channel, that the failed negotiations showed that “there is no culture of coalition at the state level” in Spain, where the Popular Party and the Socialists have dominated politics for decades.
The main precursor party to Unidas Podemos and the centrist Ciudadanos party won seats in Parliament for the first time in 2015, and the far-right Vox party won its first this year.
“We are in a learning experience,” Mr. Pisarello said.