Spain tries to form a new government after three years of chaos and four general elections. The majority that was considered impossible until last Sunday has now become necessary. But with 10 fewer seats and many more difficulties than before.
The socialist party of Pedro Sanchez, who in the elections it obtained 120 seats (-3), and Podemos by Pablo Iglesias, who won 35 (-8), signed in Congress an agreement to form a coalition government. The announcement was made in a joint press conference. "We have reached a pre-agreement to form a progressive coalition government that combines the experience of the PSOE and the courage of Unidas Podemos," said Iglesias, who is expected to assume the role of deputy prime minister.
There is talk of a pre-agreement as it postpones the appointments of the Executive formation until after the vote of confidence, even if according to reports El Pais, Podemos should get the vice presidency and three ministries.
A paradox if one takes into account the fact that a month ago in these same seats the two parties announced the impossibility of forming a government and the consequent need to hold new elections, the fourth in three years. Now, however, the path of an understanding seems to be really obligatory.
Hand numbers: the two parties control 155 seats, 21 fewer than the 176 needed to get a majority. In order to govern, they will therefore need the support of other minor political formations, including the Catalan separatists. The support of Más País (3 deputies), the Basque nationalists of the PNV (7 seats), the Galicians of the BNG (1 seat), the Aragonese party Teruel Existe (1 seat) and the two deputies of the Coalición Canaria have been confirmed. It reaches 170.
According to the latest statements, 10 deputies from Ciudadanos, 88 from the Popular Party, 52 from the extreme right represented by Vox and 2 from Navarra will go to the opposition.
The Catalan independence activists will again tip the scales. If Junts per Catalunya seems destined to occupy the benches of the opposition in any case, the 13 deputies of Erc (the same ones who caused the investiture of Sánchez to fail last July) could instead support the Government in exchange for some concessions (the point will just see what they will ask in return).
Spain's political future is therefore once again hanging by a thread. The first investiture vote will be held in the next few weeks, during which an absolute majority will have to be reached to obtain the investiture. From the second vote (usually held two days later) a simple majority (more yes than no) will suffice. It will be at this juncture that it will be understood whether Spain will really manage to have a new government or if the election psychodrama will continue.
