The coalition government finds itself in its most delicate moment internally. The tension, far from decreasing, is intensifying with the latest movements of the PSOE. If the Christmas holidays had been taken in Moncloa to take a breather, a decision at the gates of … Christmas Eve reignited hostilities between the partners.
On December 23, the Council of Ministers activated the exceptional clause of the arms embargo imposed on Israel – as punishment for its actions in Gaza – to authorize the “transfer of certain defense and dual-use materials”. The exception occurs in the context of several European projects undertaken with the Airbus company and under the pretext of the need to provide essential “technological elements” that only Israel manufactures.
The decision to lift, for the first time, the veto imposed last September on imports and exports with the country of Benjamin Netanyahu leaves Sumar again in a very compromised situation in an already controversial context, after cases of corruption and sexual harassment within the PSOE.
Yolanda Díaz’s party already opposed this reservation a few months ago and presented objections to the decision, the only formal possibility of protest at its disposal, because understands that the exception “is not justified”. However, there is little else they can or plan to do. Once again, the inability of the minority partner to condition government policies is evident.
This latest clash comes at a particularly sensitive moment within the coalition, after the failure of Sumar’s last order. Díaz demanded in an interview with La Sexta that Sánchez undertake a profound overhaul of the government to recover the political initiative and on the socialist side they responded with a mixture of snub and mockery. In the end, the president promoted the minimal changes he had planned and once again exposed the weakness of the minority partner.
Sumar presented objections to the Council of Ministers because he understands that the exception “is not justified”
In Sumar, this situation is beginning to take its toll, along with the frustration of being drawn into the current of scandals – of corruption and sexual harassment – of the PSOE. It is for this reason that the sources of Díaz’s training recognize that, for the first time, The debate opened on the possibility of leaving the coalition. It is not a decision that is on the table, as they recognize, but they reveal that there are voices within the platform – which supports several parties – who wonder if it is worth continuing to support Sánchez from the inside or if it would be better to abandon the Executive and cultivate support from the outside, with a more demanding position.
In any case, the Sumar leadership decides not to abandon the government and asks the PSOE be more ambitious in your efforts politicians to make the most of the time they have left in power. Regarding the arms embargo against Israel, Díaz enjoys the support of the rest of the majority’s left partners. ERC, EH Bildu and BNG had already criticized the exceptions at the time, while Podemos went much further, calling the veto a “false embargo” which they ultimately ended up approving in Congress.
The decision to leave the government is not on the table, but for the first time the debate is open
The Republicans consider that this is an “insufficient and cowardly” measure and the spokesperson for the Galician nationalists, Néstor Rego, demanded an “immediate rectification” because it represents a “serious political inconsistency” regarding commitments made to the people of Gaza. Rego also demanded the “total severance” of relations with Israel “as long as the occupation and repression persist.”
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