The European elections have left the PSOE with a hangover in Madrid. Pedro Sánchez managed to overcome Alberto Núñez Feijóo’s plebiscite on Sunday, but the difference with which the PP defeated the socialists in one of the main strongholds of the right has stirred up feelings in the always tumultuous PSM. The candidacy of Dolors Montserrat concentrated half of the 700,000 votes that gave the PP victory in the region presided over by Isabel Díaz Ayuso. The President of the Government acknowledged his concern for the 348,762 votes and 12.5 point difference that the PP had over the PSOE in the federation in which he belongs. The Madrid PSOE leadership made a “benign” analysis of the results in the afternoon, with some members accusing Secretary General Juan Lobato of lacking self-criticism.
Lobato, who has been in office for two and a half years, pointed out that Madrid cut 110,000 votes from the PP and contributed 782,765 votes on June 9th, second only in absolute terms to Andalusia (935,603), whose results have also been disappointing for Ferraz and La Moncloa, and ahead of Catalonia (732,362). However, critics of the Madrid PSOE leadership were also dismayed that the party highlighted being the most voted in 23 municipalities (Madrid has 179) and in five of the 21 districts of the capital. The PSOE leadership at the national level also disagrees and states that “the data has not been favorable” in the region, where they obtained two points less than the national result. However, no one has called for an extraordinary congress against Lobato and Ferraz is not considering a change in leadership at the moment.
Lobato maintains that there has been a “qualitative change” in the PSOE’s favor in the general elections of June 23rd and the European elections, where the PSOE has regained its position as “a government alternative” and a “reference” for the opposition. However, there are criticisms of Lobato regarding his lack of enthusiasm in supporting the amnesty law and in his approach towards Ayuso. Some party members believe that a clear left-wing message is needed to attract votes from Más Madrid, while others believe that reaching out to moderate voters is essential. The historical impatience shown by the PSOE in Madrid, with decades of turbulent candidacies imposed by Ferraz, is one of the factors playing in favor of Lobato.
The lack of patience historically shown by the PSOE in Madrid, with decades of turbulent candidacies imposed by Ferraz, without giving them time to establish themselves, is one of the factors in favor of Lobato. The socialist barons are also very aware that Sánchez urged after the failure of the Galician elections to “consolidate leadership” in the communities, therefore intervening in Madrid would go against that purpose. However, this doesn’t mean that Lobato will have an easy task, particularly due to internal challenges within the PSM. This debate will open up when the organic processes arrive and will depend on the message conveyed by Pedro Sánchez.
