The PSOE has come out of the Basque elections revitalized, exceeding expectations and setting the stage for the upcoming Catalan and European elections. The demand from Eneko Andueza for a strong presence of the PSE in the next coalition government with the PNV highlights the enthusiasm of the socialists heading into the Catalan elections. The party saw growth in both votes and seats in Euskadi, strengthening their relationship with the Basque nationalists. The party’s strength was emphasized by Pedro Sanchez in contrast to the PP’s insistence on the government’s imminent end. The PSOE’s optimism is high, with expectations of a better outcome in Catalonia than in Euskadi.
The PP, on the other hand, made gains in the Basque Country but still fell short of surpassing 10% of the vote. Their performance in recent Catalan elections was also lackluster, with only 3.85% of the vote and three seats in the Parliament. In Navarra, the PP received 7.28% of the vote. In contrast, the PSOE struggled in Galicia with nine seats, but maintained double-digit votes. The Executive on Monday made it clear that the strong position achieved in Euskadi has boosted optimism before the Catalan elections, which could determine the stability of the legislature. The decision by Pere Aragones to advance the elections has provided the PSOE with an opportunity to build momentum for the European elections on June 9th.
Pedro Sanchez will be fully engaged in the Catalan campaign, participating in at least five rallies and possibly up to eight. He is set to kick off the campaign in Sabadell and Santa Coloma de Gramenet, strongholds of the PSC. The PSOE leadership is confident that the Catalans will support the policy of reconciliation and amnesty to move past the pro-independence movement. The expectation is that this will generate momentum for the European Parliament elections, with Teresa Ribera likely to be the candidate. The PP, on the other hand, aims to turn the European elections into a referendum on Sanchez, capitalizing on the potential for a government backlash vote.
The PSOE is optimistic about attracting voters from the left of the party, following poor results for Podemos and Sumar in previous elections. Despite the potential for a stronger showing in a general election, the PSOE believes they have a solid base of support. The party is also eyeing the environmental vote, with Ribera being considered as a candidate for the European elections. The political landscape is shifting, with the PSOE focused on building momentum from the Basque elections to carry them through the upcoming Catalan and European elections. The stage is set for a turbulent yet crucial period in Spanish politics, with each party vying for support and positioning themselves for success.
