As widely expected the Prime Minister in charge Mariano Rajoy did not get the trust in the first of two votes that could allow Spain to have an executive after almost nine months of ungovernability and two general elections behind them. The numbers anticipated on the eve were respected: 180 deputies voted against the investiture against 170 votes in favor (no abstentions).
To be able to obtain the investiture, the leader of the People's Party, who obtained the highest number of votes both in the consultations of 26 June and in those of 20 December (but without being able to grab the absolute majority) would have had to obtain the favorable vote of 176 deputies. An impossible mission even after the alliance with Ciudadanos which guaranteed Rajoy 170 votes in favour, of which 137 from the PP, 32 from the C's and 1 from the representative of the Canarian Party.
No one believed that today's popular leader would be able to conquer the Cortes, while greater hopes were placed in the second vote on 2 September, when a simple majority will be needed to have trust (and therefore with the abstention of the socialists the numbers would be there). But the speech delivered today by the general secretary of the PSOE Pedro Sanchez eliminates any chance of success for Rajoy.
During very long the investiture debate prior to the vote, the tones were very harsh, as well as cross-allegations between the leaders of four major political parties.
The number one of the socialists not only reiterated his No to today's vote, but also anticipated that he will vote against any attempt that the Prime Minister in charge will make between now and October 31, the day on which, according to the provisions of the law, the useful time will expire for the formation of the Government and the King will be forced (again) to dissolve the chambers by officially calling new elections, scheduled for Christmas.
"The PSOE - said Sanchez - will never abstain in the face of corruption and the suppression of rights". Then addressing Rajoy directly: “We do not trust you and will not grant you an unjustified pardon.”
An hermetic closure that cannot be opened under any circumstances and that projects Spain towards the third general election of the year.
No dry even from Podemos who, through the mouth of his number one Pablo Iglesias, reaffirmed the position of the entire party "If you continue to govern it will be a disaster for everyone".
"The ally" Albert Rivera, leader of Ciudadanos, during the debate invited the PP and PSOE to find points in common around the pacts signed by Ciudadanos with both parties (during the previous, and bankruptcy, investiture session C's had made an agreement with the socialists), while admitting that still today still don't trust Rajoy and emphasizing that allowing the People's Party to govern does not mean supporting it, but acting for the good of the country. Finally, Rivera asked, without being heard, the socialists to "help" him keep the popular people under control.
Rajoy tried to the last, repeatedly asking the deputies of all the parties present in Parliament to vote with "responsibility". "I know that 170 deputies are not enough, but I think it is a reasonable number of seats to allow for the formation of a government in Spain and to avoid going to elections for the third time".
Nothing to do. There does not seem to be a way forward to allow the country to abandon the state of ungovernability that has existed since last December. According to El Pais, one of Spain's leading newspapers, there is only one way to resolve the issue without resorting to the polls: one between Pedro Sanchez and Mariano Rajoy must step aside.
If the PSOE secretary decides to take a step back, a man more inclined to compromise could take the lead of the party, paving the way for the second consecutive government led by Rajoy (a minority or in coalition with socialists and citizens).
If, on the other hand, it were the number one of the PP who backed down, Sanchez could have a valid excuse to give in, while saving face in the face of public opinion.
It is a pity that neither of the two leaders seems willing to leave the seat they currently occupy, putting an end to one of the longest political crises in Iberian history and safeguarding the country's stability. Up to now, economic growth has resisted very well the paradoxical political turmoil of the last nine months, but it is said that new elections will not jeopardize what the Iberian Peninsula has built over the years with sacrifices and austerity, halting the positive results recorded in the last two years on GDP, industry and unemployment.
At this point, barring improbable twists and turns, Mariano Rajoy's fate seems sealed and so does that of the Spaniards who will return to vote next Christmas in the hope that last year's vicious political circle will finally come to an end.
