Political Tension Escalates as Sumar Calls for PSOE to Distance from Santos Cerdán Amid Corruption Allegations
Sumar demands accountability from the PSOE, while ERC questions the silence of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez over corruption inquiries.
Sumar, a leftist political coalition in Spain, has formally requested that the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) take decisive action regarding Santos Cerdán, the party's Secretary of Organization, in light of an investigative report from the UCO (Central Operational Unit) that implicates him in alleged illegal commissions.
In a statement released on Thursday, Sumar, led by Yolanda Díaz, urged its governmental partners to take "clear and forceful" actions in response to the alarming situation.
Three ministers from Sumar—Ernest Urtasun, Mónica García, and Sira Rego—have already signaled that removing Cerdán from his responsibilities is essential for safeguarding what they refer to as the "progressive majority" in the country.
Meanwhile, the regional party ERC (Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya) has called on Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to publicly address the corruption cases linked to the PSOE and the current government.
Gabriel Rufián, the spokesperson for ERC in Congress, expressed disappointment with Sánchez’s lack of public commentary and emphasized that "hiding has always been a bad business." Rufián suggested that it would be beneficial for Sánchez to provide clarity amid growing concerns over leaked information regarding significant figures within the PSOE.
Rufián further proposed the organization of a special plenary session in Congress to discuss the ongoing issues, criticizing Sánchez for previously holding "absurd press conferences" that failed to provide substantive answers.
He reiterated the urgency of the matter, asserting that now is not the time for the Prime Minister to remain silent, especially concerning influential leadership within the PSOE.
The ERC leader noted that his party would only reconsider its support for the government should concrete evidence of criminal wrongdoing arise.
As of now, he remarked, only leaks of information exist, and public sentiment is leaning towards questioning the whereabouts of the Prime Minister.
Additionally, Junts, a political party led by Carles Puigdemont, has weighed in on the UCO report.
Junts expressed confidence that Cerdán would provide the necessary explanations regarding the allegations.
Jordi Turull, the secretary general of Junts, emphasized the importance of upholding the presumption of innocence, citing the party's own experiences with media and police condemnation.
Turull also dismissed the notion that the Cerdán situation could lead to Junts supporting a motion of no confidence against the government.
In a statement released on Thursday, Sumar, led by Yolanda Díaz, urged its governmental partners to take "clear and forceful" actions in response to the alarming situation.
Three ministers from Sumar—Ernest Urtasun, Mónica García, and Sira Rego—have already signaled that removing Cerdán from his responsibilities is essential for safeguarding what they refer to as the "progressive majority" in the country.
Meanwhile, the regional party ERC (Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya) has called on Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to publicly address the corruption cases linked to the PSOE and the current government.
Gabriel Rufián, the spokesperson for ERC in Congress, expressed disappointment with Sánchez’s lack of public commentary and emphasized that "hiding has always been a bad business." Rufián suggested that it would be beneficial for Sánchez to provide clarity amid growing concerns over leaked information regarding significant figures within the PSOE.
Rufián further proposed the organization of a special plenary session in Congress to discuss the ongoing issues, criticizing Sánchez for previously holding "absurd press conferences" that failed to provide substantive answers.
He reiterated the urgency of the matter, asserting that now is not the time for the Prime Minister to remain silent, especially concerning influential leadership within the PSOE.
The ERC leader noted that his party would only reconsider its support for the government should concrete evidence of criminal wrongdoing arise.
As of now, he remarked, only leaks of information exist, and public sentiment is leaning towards questioning the whereabouts of the Prime Minister.
Additionally, Junts, a political party led by Carles Puigdemont, has weighed in on the UCO report.
Junts expressed confidence that Cerdán would provide the necessary explanations regarding the allegations.
Jordi Turull, the secretary general of Junts, emphasized the importance of upholding the presumption of innocence, citing the party's own experiences with media and police condemnation.
Turull also dismissed the notion that the Cerdán situation could lead to Junts supporting a motion of no confidence against the government.
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