Pedro Sánchez defended the PSOE vote at a rally in Cáceres on Sunday, admitting party errors amid corruption and sexual harassment cases, while backing Miguel Ángel Gallardo for the December 21 Extremadura elections.
At a rally held on Sunday in a civic center in Cáceres, Pedro Sánchez, PSOE general secretary and government president, backed Miguel Ángel Gallardo's candidacy for the presidency of the Extremadura regional government. The event, described as an adhesion act in a windowless hall, drew a mostly elderly and civil servant membership. During his speech, Sánchez was interrupted by an excited supporter shouting '20 more years!' to the president, requiring security to calm the man.
Sánchez admitted the party has 'committed errors' referring to recent PSOE scandals of sexual harassment and corruption. He defended equality 'with all its consequences' and recalled measures like the mandatory anti-harassment protocol in political parties. He criticized the right for their 'connivance' in similar cases and the president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference, Luis Argüello, proposing he run for elections with Christian Lawyers. 'This government pays off for Spaniards', he stated, highlighting achievements like pension increases, scholarships, minimum wage hikes, and ERTEs during the pandemic.
Gallardo, under investigation for alleged influence peddling, spoke first and predicted a 'big surprise' for PP and Vox on December 21. He condemned harassment cases: 'Our party has no room for abusers', and thanked female socialists for pushing the exit of those involved. A militant, Rafael Fontana, expressed concern over Gallardo's imputation but trust in Sánchez: 'Justice times are also political'.
The rally, lasting just over an hour, reflected internal tensions, with Gallardo joking about Santiago Abascal on horseback and Sánchez avoiding saying 'corruption' with him present.
