Spanish elections and politics

[Velasco]

It's tragic that there's a majority for the left in Catalonia, but they can't enter government together cause of the separatist issue.

There isn't one. Cs+JxCat have a majority as of now (70/135 seats). Of course such a coalition is impossible but still.

It's true. Cs+JxCAT+PP add 74 out of 135 seats. The procés has been lethal for the left, in Catalonia and in the rest of Spain. I put all my hopes in the thawing process promoted by Pedro Sánchez. Everything is fragile and provisional right now, but we could see light at the end of the tunnel. As Le Monde correspondent puts it: the problem with this government is that it has ideas, but is lacking a majority to make them real.

[Velasco]

It's too early to say, but the election of Pablo Casado represents a clear turn to the right for a party that is already perceived as very right-wing. Casado is a social conservative and an "unashamed liberal" (i.e. "neoliberal") on economics. There will be a tight competition between PP and Cs to determine which is the toughest party with separatists.

Casado is standing now for a new electoral system with a  50 seat bonus, like in Greece. He claims that the bonus would allow the winning party to govern without needing the votes of Catalan and Basque nationalists. Previously he proposed the ban of separatist parties.

Also, I might be horribly off with the comparison (posters from Spain: fix my post if necessary ) but I could see him possibly turning into a Sebastian Kurz-type figure: young, more conservative than many past leaders of his party (but relative to Spain, not Austria of course), and responsible for rejuvenating the party in the eyes of those on the center-right to right wing.

Spain is not Austria, obviously. It's possible that there is a slight resemblance between Pablo Casado and Sebastian Kurz, as they share conservative stances and both are in the thirties (Casado is 37, a bit older than millennial Kurz). Unlike Austria and other countries in Europe, there is no obsession with immigration in Spain. The issue that provokes paranoia in public opinion is Catalonia. People in Spain see a strong resemblance between Pablo Casado and Albert Rivera. Casado is young, but no so fresh in my opinion. I mean, he's way too traditionalist for modern Spain and is the heir of Aznar. However, I'm not a right-wing voter and maybe conservatives in Spain think otherwise. The point is that a social conservative like him would be too much for a country that is highly secularized. Casado is tougher than Cs on abortion and euthanasia, which are not on the focus of the orange party. For sure with Casado in the PP leadership the Vox party has limited opportunities to grow.

In other news, this weekend is the convention of the PDeCAT. The fight here is between the supporters of Puigdemont and the 'pragmatic' faction of party coordinator Marta Pascal. The PDeCAT deputies in the Spanish Congress belong to the 'pragmatic' wing and were key in the no confidence vote against Rajoy. Puigdemont is launching a new movement (Crida Nacional per la República) in the fashion of Junts per Catalunya. Marta Pascal wants to reach an agreement with Puigdemont and stands for a "strong party" that joins the new 'republican' movement...

[Velasco]

this doesn’t mean a rightward turn for the party

The election of Pablo Casado is a rightward turn to the party.  PP delegates were faced to choose between two different options:

1) The continuity of the Rajoy's legacy represented by the former Deputy PM Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, possibly the most powerful woman in Spain since Queen Isabel II ("Isabella" for English Wikipedia). It has been said before: Santamaría is a pragmatist, a technocrat, a woman with no strong ideological stances who has been always focused on power and management. In what regards pragmatism she could be cautiously compared with Angela Merkel, although both women have very different backgrounds. Anyway she's not a centrist, rather she is a "stately" candidate or a "stateswoman" if you want (state attorney by profession). While campaigning Santamaría used to talk as she was still into government affairs.

2) The "conservative revolution" of Pablo Casado, a candidate to the right of old-fashioned provincian conservative Rajoy. Casado is a young man who wants to renew the party but, at the same time, he represents the comeback of old party leaders like José María Aznar and Esperanza Aguirre, or more precisely the triumph of their vision, I already posted about some of his stances and proposals.

Media narrative: the leadership contest was the Heiress of Rajoy Vs the Heir of Aznar.

[Velasco]

The election of Pablo Casado and the foreseeable competition between him and Albert Rivera on the grounds of right-wing Spanish nationalism might be good for the PSOE, because it places Pedro Sánchez in the centre. In case that the new leader of the Spanish Right launches a war on ideas, It could be good for Podemos that political battles are fought on ideological grounds. Maybe Casado will make moves in the following days indicative of the path he wants to choose, either the strong ideological stance in the border with Vox or a certain discursive modulation. Also, what is going to hapoen with Santamaria and her supporters. She wants to negotiate a place un party leadership, apparently.

Marta Pascal seems to be losing to Puigdemont in rhe PDeCAT convention. She resigned As coordinator for not having the confidence of the leader that is in Germany. Puigdemont could take full control.

[Velasco]

David Bonvehí elected new chairman of the PDeCAT (formerly CDC). Deputy Miriam Nogueras is the new vice-chairman; presumably she will take control of the PDeCAT caucus in the Spanish Congress. As said before, former coordinator Marta Pascal resigned alleging that she's not trusted by Puigdemont anymore. This resignation and the low profile of the party leadership signal the defeat of the 'possibilist' faction that wanted to keep the party's identity. Puigdemont, who is the uncontested leader and the main electoral asset of the PDeCAT, takes control. Also, with this move the PDeCAT subordinates completely to Puigdemont and his new artifact, the Crida Nacional per la República ("National Call for the Republic"). As opposed to the 'possibilists' wanting to leave the unilateral path to independence and start a dialogue with the central government*, Puigdemont and his supporters are committed to maintain the tension. The Crida is an electoral vehicle that intends to be the equivalent of En Marche! (Macron obsession is everywhere) in the Catalan independence movement, with the aim of winning hegemony at the expense of ERC. The party led by Oriol Junqueras, who remains in jail, is more committed to possibilism since the failure of the unilateral declaration of independence in October 2017. Previously ERC pushed Puigdemont to declare the "Catalan Republic", so this turn displeased the deposed premier and worsened the acrimonious rivalry between the two nationalist parties.


*Marta Pascal and the parliamentary caucus pushed in favour of the no confidence motion against Rajoy, while Puigdemont and his supporters ('vicarious' premier Quim Torra and Elsa Artadi, among others) were in favour of abstention.

So we have that, in the same weekend, radicals have won in the PP and the PDeCAT conventions. Pedro Sánchez could find himself trapped by a nationalist front formed by PP-Cs on the one hand and Puigdemont on the other hand.

Something that I find interesting is that even though Casado is the supposed heir of Aznar as the more conservative candidate, back on the day Aznar himself was the moderate, bringing PP to the centre and making it competitive with González's PSOE after Fraga's AP was considered too conservative and too close to the Franco regime.

It's obvious that the alleged centrism or moderatism of José María Aznar was fake and cosmetic. On the other hand, the connection of Manuel Fraga with the Franco regime was so evident that a generational replacement was necessary, in order that the refurbished PP (the party was refounded by then) could break the famous 'glass ceiling' of the Spanish Right.

[Velasco]

CIS July 2018. Fieldwork July 1 to 10, 1 month after Pedro Sánchez becomes the new PM and more than 10 days before Pablo Casado becomes the new PP leader.

It's not surprising that PSOE is going up after the no confidence motion while Podemos drops. Obviously there's a vote transfer between the two parties in the left, but I don't think the PSOE can grow much more at the expense pf Podemos. The combined Cs-PP percentage is low, while the "others" percentage is a bit high if compared with other polls. I can't draw conclusions right  now. For sure some experts in media will dissect the poll insides.  

Immigration concern is three times higher than the previous month (11.1% in July to 3.5% in June), in coincidence with summer arrivals in Andalusia. In contrast concern on Catalonia is lower (6.3% to 7.1%). As usual, corruption and fraud (38.5%) and unemployment (64.3%) are the main concerns.

[Velasco]

Polls reflect a moment in time. At the beginning of July rhe PSOE was high, while the other parties were low for different reasons. The conventions of the PP and the PDeCAT at the end of July saw the victory of radicals in the Spanish Right and in Catalan separatism. On the one hand, Pablo Casado is implementing a tough and merciless opposition style, unashamedly resorting to demagoguery. Casado's claims on the supposed "call effect" that would be attracting illegal immigrants to Spanish coast, or the claims on alleged concessions to separatists are in this hard line. On the other hand, Puigdemont is unwilling to make things easy for Sánchez and is less ready for dialogue and cooperation than PDeCAT moderates. The government lost an important vote in Congress, when Podemos we and nationalists denied their support for a more relaxed expenditure target. It's hard to understand, when the EU Commission allowed more expenditure and the new target would have been a relief for regional governments, including Catalonia. Catalan nationalists argued that PP has a majority in Senate, but that could be overturned. In short, the government will have a very hard time to pass a budget. In case of snap election, I think neither the left nor the right would have a majority. Grand Coalition or PSOE-Cs seem very unlikely. Don't forget the undergoing investigation of the Casado's master degree. There will be new developments soon.

[Velasco]

Pedro Sánchez and Pablo Casado had their first meeting

https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/08/03/inenglish/1533288882_522322.html

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Velasco]

I wouldn't rule out the possibility, but I think that PSOE and Cs are much more distanced now than two years ago. Cs has shifted ostensibly to the right in order to catch all the PP vote. The Albert Rivera party has been always very hard line on Catalonia, but now oranges have to compete with Casado and that implies even more toughness. While PSOE favors dialogue on order to reestablish institutional relationship between central and regional governments (without making concessions on independence referendum or right to self-determination), PP and Cs are against talking with separatists. Both parties in the right are equally radical on this matter. Possibly PSOE and Cs can find some coincidences on policies and their deal in 2016 proves that, but Rivera's rhetoric against this government is so harsh that it's hard to imagine a new arrangement. But who knows, things can evolve in any direction.

[Velasco]

The Guardian: Spanish Right whips up fears as migration surge hits Andalusian shores. New rightwing party leaders are convinced that immigration will be a vote-winner, but on the front line in Algeciras there is more frustration than alarm

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/05/spain-rightwing-parties-spar-immigration-surge-boats

You must be logged in to read this quote.

The sudden ignition of the debate on immigration in Spain by PP and Cs has raised alarms in Brussels. According to El País, a shivering attack hits the European Commission seat in Berleymont building. Spain, Portugal and Ireland remain as the countries in Europe lacking a far-right anti-immigration party in parliament. The fear is that, once the fear on immigration is fuelled, it's very difficult to put out the fire. EU is in a state of extreme fragility and is threatened by the rise of far-right populism. It cannot afford to lose Spain, as it happened with Italy. It's too early to say if Casado and Rivera are going to pursue this populist course of action, or they will tone down their calls to fear.

[Velasco]

Judge investigating master irregularities at Juan Carlos I University brings the case to the Supreme Court, suspecting that the Casado's degree was "given for free". Parlamentarians in Spain are "aforados" (they have a special legal status) and must be investigated by the Supreme Court, not by ordinary courts. Casado stated that he won't resign in case there is a formal investigation against him. Pedro Sanchez simply said that Casado should be accountable to Spanish citizens. Podemos demands that Casado resigns, while a Cs spokesman said the situation of the PP leader is "serious".

[Velasco]

Apparently La Razon did a recient poll on the monarchy and republicanism in Spain. The biggest question: "Should Spain become a republic?" saw a 64% no, 27% yes split; but with a massive age gap: Young people (under 35) support a republic by a 48-40 margin while everyone else supports the monarchy overwhelmingly

Possibly there's not still a majority supporting the republic, but I doubt the monarchy has such a level of support given some recent events that have discredited the institution and led to the abdication of the now emeritus king:  the corruption scandal involving Iñaki Urdangarín and the Juan Carlos' affairs unveiled after the Botswana hunting accident. It wouldn't be surprising a certain pro-monarchy bias in a conservative newspaper like La Razón. On the other hand, it's telling the fact that CIS surveys stopped asking about monarchy shortly after the beginning of the King Felipe reign.

There is a recent international survey conducted by Ipsos that says Spanish monarchy has the lowest level of support among European monarchies. According to that survey 37% is openly in favour of abolishing monarchy and 52% in favour of a referendum.

https://www.ipsos.com/es-es/la-monarquia-espanola-la-menos-apoyada-entre-las-monarquias-europeas

[Velasco]

Celeste-Tel / el diario.es

PSOE 28% 111-114 seats
PP 25.5% 101-104 Sears
Cs 19.4% 58-60 Sears
UP 17.3% 48-53 seats
ERC 3% 11-12 seats
PDeCAT 1.6% 6 seats
EAJ-PNV 1.1% 5 seats
EH-Bildu 0.9% 3 seats
CC-PNC 0.3% 1 seat

https://m.eldiario.es/politica/Encuesta-electoral-Celeste-Tel-agosto_0_803170056.html

[Velasco]

Interesting, so a leftwing coalition or minority government seems possible.

It's possible providing that Catalan and Basque nationalists allow the investiture of Pedro Sanchez. Poll figures show a virtual tie between the Left and the Right, both in terms of vote percentage and seats. Peripheral nationalists hold the balance of power. The main difference between this poll and the CIS is the vote estimation for the PP (25.5% to 20.4%). It might be the 'Casado effect', but maybe the PP-Cs combined estimation was too low in the CIS. The PSOE-UP combined figures are around 45% in both polls.

[Velasco]

In case PSOE and UP win more seats than PP and Cs, Pedro Sanchez could be elected without a majority in a second vote providing that Catalan and Basque nationalists abstain. Remember that Rajoy won the investiture in 2016 with only 170 votes of 350, thanks to the abstention of a majority of PSOE MPs. First investiture vote requires absolute majority (176 seats); second investiture vote requires simple majority (more affirmative than negative votes).

[Velasco]

Sure, but remember that back in 2015 PSOE+Pod+IU had 161 seats while PP+Cs had 163.

If what you say were true, in theory Sánchez should have become PM back in 2015; I don't think a "yes" vote from PNV would have been that hard to get.

If PSOE and UP win more seats than PP+Cs (or even slightly less, but with PNV support) it's all up to the Catalan nationalists again.

Pedro Sánchez wanted to make a deal with Podemos and peripheral nationalists, according to his own statements after he was ousted from leadership by the 'old guard' and the 'barons'. He couldn't do so because, after the 2015 elections, the PSOE Federal Executive Committee banned explicitly any attempt to make arrangements with Catalan separatist parties and banned in practice any arrangement with Podemos (Pablo Iglesias was very arrogant too, but that's a parallel issue). Given that he had the hands tied by his party in what regards the Catalan parties, Pedro Sánchez tried unsuccessfully to arm a "coalition of change" with Podemos and Cs. Purples and oranges crossed vetoes between them. Meanwhile Pedro Sánchez and his team forged an agreement with Cs and tried that at least Podemos abstained, but the Pablo Iglesias party deemed that deal unacceptable.

Is there any reason why PSOE and C couldn't form a centre-left coalition and put both PP and UP in opposition along with all the regional parties?

I have tried to explain before that Cs has shifted to the right, especially after the crisis in Catalonia intensified past year. CIS surveys used to place Cs in the centre or the centre-right, scoring 5.5 on the ideological numerical scale (0-10 from left to right). Currently Cs is scoring 7 on the same scale, only one point less than PP. Citizens perceptions correspond with Cs stances indistinguishable from PP on issues like Catalonia, immigration or economic policy. The main difference between Casado and Rivera lies on the social conservatism of the PP leader. The tone of Cs leader Albert Rivera is very tough in criticizing the Pedro Sánchez government. Unless the tone, the turn to the right and the radical opposition to any kind of dialogue with Catalan separatists are reversed, I see very complicated that PSOE and Cs can form a coalition government. There's nothing impossible and there are stranger bed fellows than Sánchez and Rivera, but I'm very skeptic about this...

[Velasco]

Cs leader Albert Rivera threatens to break the confidence and supply agreement with PSOE in Andalusia within two days. Rivera alleges breach on the part of premier Susana Diaz and urges her to fulfill some conditions (electoral reform and others). Susana Díaz says that two days are little time, accuses Rivera of electioneering and transmits signals that she could call elections this autumn. There have been rumours in previous months on early elections in Andalusia. In case Susana Díaz calls, a new electoral cycle starts in Spain.

[Velasco]

Apparently mayor of Madrid Manuela Carmena has announced that she is running for reelection. While this would generally be good news for the left (I personally think Madrid is lost if Carmena had retired), it's caused a bit of trouble inside Podemos and IU since she has announced that she will run not as a party (whether officially "Unidos Podemos" or an instrumental party like Ahora Madrid in 2015) but instead as an "electors list"; basically running as an independent without any links to political parties. PSOE has said i that they won't take part on the Carmena electors list.

In fact she has said that she will run for mayor even if she doesn't have the support of Podemos and IU and doesn't want to go through a primaries process. In any case I don't think Podemos/IU will try and run against Carmena.

Manuela Carmena is a good mayor that has reduced the astronomic local debt left by the PP governments. Also, she is taking steps to solve a number of problems (pollution, housing, etcetera) and she has a quite decent approval rate. Podemos and IU have their interests as political organizations, but people in both parties (and in the PSOE too) know that Manuela Carmena is the only hope for the Left to retain a city that otherwise is leaning to the Right. Carmena has been hesitating due to some health problems (she is 74) and some conflicts within her heterogeneous governing group. She is an independent and wants to run in an independent list ("voters grouping", a legal formula slightly different from the "instrumental party" Ahora Madrid) where people from Podemos, IU and other parties and organizations is invited to join. Manuela Carmena wants her close collaborators (Rita Maestre from Podemos and others) to be on the top of the list, as well she would like to get rid of some councillors that created problems (mostly people from Ganemos and the former treasurer, who is from IU). Pablo Iglesias would like to place loyals like retired general Julio Rodríguez, but it's likely that he will concede most of the Carmena's demands. On the other hand, the candidate of Unidos Podemos in the region of Madrid will be ïñigo Errejón and the coincidence between him and Carmena is total.

In other news, Pedro Sánchez and Pablo Iglesias are in honeymoon. This week the PM and the leader of Podemos signed a draft deal that could serve as governing blueprint

https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/09/07/inenglish/1536310023_380435.html

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Cs broke officially the confidence and supply agreement with the PSOE of Andalusia on Friday, in a meeting of the national executive held in Málaga, This will lead inevitably to snap elections in this southern region opening the new electoral cycle in Spain. Local, Regional and European elections are scheduled next year. General elections could take place in autumn next year in case Pedro Sánchez cannot pass the budget and stretches the timing.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Funnily enough, this pollster works for La Vanguardia too. I suspect the results of the polls for ABC and the Barcelona newpaper might differ a bit, which shouldn't be very surprising given that often polls reflect the customer's desires.

EDIT: The decision of Carmena to run in her own terms has raised criticism in IU, Ganemos and the anticapitalist faction of Podemos. In other words, those factions within Ahora Madrid that have confronted Carmena. Her announcement has been welcomed by councillors and people in the mainstream factions of Podemos.

[Velasco]

Carmen Montón should resign immediately, since she has failed this morning in providing explanations for the many irregularities reported by journalists from eldiario.es (the same who unveiled the master irregularities of PP politicians). Pablo Casado should have never run for the PP leadership, because he got his master degree without studying.

I'm highly dissapointed at Carmen Montón, who held the Healthcare portfolio on the Valencian regional government and made a good job. She must leave. Said this, WTF with gender studies? Are you a male chauvinist or what?

[Velasco]

Pedro Sánchez accepts the digital release of his thesis and will sue ABC, in case the newspaper doesn't rectify. Sánchez was very angry with Rivera yesterday and accused the Cs leader of "turning politics in a quagmire". Possibly Rivera wants to pressure Casado indirectly.

 Judge Llarena will be one of the members of the Supreme Court that will decide there's enough evidence to open an investigation to Casado on the charges of prevarication (as a collaborator) and "improper bribery" for having benefitted of an unjust administrative resolution (the master degree). In other words, if the investigation will move forward if the judges of the high court consider there are enough signs to suspect that Casado's master was a gift and the PP leader was aware of it and collaborated  with the corrupt public officials.

 Llarena, on the other hand, is the same judge that prosecutes the case against Catalan separatist politicians, alleging rebellion. Puigdemont has sued Llarena in Belgium, accusing Spain of being a "delinquent state". Spanish government will handle defence costs to Llarena, after some controversy and criticism from the Right.

Meanwhile there was the usual massive demonstration in Barcelona to commemorate the Diada (Catalan national celebration) on September 11.

[Velasco]

According to the monthly Celeste-Tel poll released by eldiario.es, PP is growing at the expense of Cs while PSOE halts its growth

PSOE 28.2%, PP 26.4%, Cs 18.7%, UP 17.1%, Others 9.5%

https://www.eldiario.es/politica/PSOE-ascenso-PP-creciendo-Ciudadanos_0_813669536.html

[Velasco]

BREAKING

Spanish Congress supports a legislative decree approved by the government in August in order to exhume and move away the Franco's remains from the Valle de los Caídos memorial.

The vote went as follows: 172 in favour, 164 abstentions and 2 against. All PP and Cs deputies abstained, except two PP members who voted against alleging mistake.

On the legislative decree

https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/08/24/inenglish/1535097265_662248.html

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Velasco]

Had this system been used for the 2015 regional elections, the new result would have been:

CC: 20 (+2)
PSOE: 17 (+2)
PP: 14 (+2)
Podemos: 9 (+2)
NCa: 5 (-)
ASG: 3 (-)
Cs: 2 (+2)

How did you calculate this allocation of seats? As far as I know the draft does not detail the system of allocation of the regional list seats. Maybe it's better than nothing, but this reform s botched.

The affair of the Pedro Sánchez thesis is something like a somekescreen, useful for Rivera in order to regain protagonism and to divert the focus from important things. I have heard that the rivals of Pedro Sánchez in the PSOE already examined it and didn't find signs of plagiarism.

For instance, yesterday's vote was belated but historic. The abstention of PP and Cs is very idifficult to justify. I think the Spanish Right won't be tretaed well by posterity on this issue

https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/09/13/inenglish/1536852062_932166.html

You must be logged in to read this quote.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Franco's family is opposed

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Velasco]

Had this system been used for the 2015 regional elections, the new result would have been:

CC: 20 (+2)
PSOE: 17 (+2)
PP: 14 (+2)
Podemos: 9 (+2)
NCa: 5 (-)
ASG: 3 (-)
Cs: 2 (+2)

How did you calculate this allocation of seats? As far as I know the draft does not detail the system of allocation of the regional list seats. Maybe it's better than nothing, but this reform s botched.

From what I can tell the regional list seats are just treated like any other constituency, so I just asigned the 9 seats proportionally to the regional results (iirc it ended up something like PSOE 2, PP 2, CC 2, Podemos 2, NC 1).

Other than that I just recalculated the results in each island taking into account what Cs got (since they would now be above the threshold), and the extra seat in Fuerteventura.

Of course if the extra regional seats are meant as leveling seats (as opposed to just an extra constituency) that would be harder to calculate, but it would also be better. [/quote]

I'm afraid the draft does not specify if the regional seats will be calculated as levelling seats (they should) or as an extra constituency. Possibly it will be the second option by default. A way to calculate the possible result with levelling seats is treating the Canary Islands as a single constituency and then subtract the seats each party wins in the insular constituencies.

Results in insular constituencies (61 seats)*

CC 18, PSOE 15, PP 12, Podemos 7, NC 4, ASG 3, Cs 2

*Compared with the actual result  Cs wins 1 seat in Tenerife and 1 in Gran Canaria; CC loses 1 seat in Tenerife to Cs and gains the extra seat in Fuertecentura; NC loses 1 seat in Gran Canaria to Cs

Canary Islands as a single constituency (70 seats, D'Hondt)

PSOE 16, PP 15, CC 15, Podemos 12, NC 8, Cs 4, ASG 0

The problem is that CC and ASG won 3 seats more in the insular constituencies than the seats allocated in the second calculation, so we would need  overhang seats that are not present in the electoral reform.

Difference between second and first calculations:

PSOE 1, PP 3, CC -3, Podemos 5, NC 4, Cs 2, ASG -3 (Total: 9)

After some calculations, I found that the result could be (regional seats in brackets):

CC 18 (-), PSOE 15 (-), PP 13 (1), Podemos 10 (3), NC 7 (3), Cs 4 (2), ASG 3 (-)


Conclusion: if the seats of the regional constituency are intended to be levelling seats, 9 seats are too little. To put it in other words: this electoral reform is a fraud.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

This is not a question of winning or losing votes.

[Velasco]

It's not only the PP. Cs supported a legislative proposal on the subject put forward by PSOE past year. It's very difficult to justify that Spanish "liberals" don't support now the exhumation of Franco's remains from that awful place called Valle de los Caídos, something that is long overdue. 43 years is a very long time, but it's better late than never.

As for the thesis of Pedro Sánchez, there is no such scandal. It's simply slander, as Borrell said. Rivera, Casado and the conservative papers muddy the waters, They prefer making noise to make valid criticism on matters that deserve it (for instance, the management of that contract deal in laser guided bombs with Saudi Arabia). That's the way of acting usual in the Spanish Right. Casado lacks the moral authority (the master affair), but it doesn't matter because many right-wingers in Spain are shameless.