León's mayor, José Antonio Diez of the PSOE, has demanded an extraordinary federal congress to renew party leadership, criticizing Pedro Sánchez's current direction. In an Antena 3 interview, Diez warned that the PSOE's course has run its course and an immediate change is needed amid widespread discontent. His statements follow the electoral defeat in Extremadura and ahead of polls in Aragón and Castile and León.
José Antonio Diez, the socialist mayor of León, has reiterated his criticisms of Pedro Sánchez's management of the PSOE during an Antena 3 interview on Tuesday, December 30, 2025. Diez demands an extraordinary federal congress for a "renewal of leaderships," arguing that "the course has run its course and a change must be made as soon as possible." His concerns extend beyond the recent electoral setback in Extremadura, stemming from years of decisions that, he says, do not align with the party's ideology, principles, values, or representativeness.
Diez has spoken with colleagues from other regions and senses widespread discontent over handling "serious problems," such as former leaders' involvement in legal cases. He highlights that the last Organization Secretaries, Santos Cerdán and José Luis Ábalos, are in prison or on trial for alleged corruption, and people close to the president, like Francisco Salazar, face sexual harassment accusations. "A party goes far beyond its membership: it's all those people who trust us," he emphasized, adding that the current drift explains adverse electoral results and could recur in Aragón on February 8 and Castile and León in March.
The mayor regrets that internal discrepancies are ignored or met with sly responses; in León, a recent provincial congress without him was single-themed to call for his expulsion over his criticisms, which he views as logical and polite. On potential irregular financing, Diez says he has no data and hopes it's not the case, leaving it to the courts, which have requested documents from Ferraz on cash payments.
Renewal is essential, per Diez, to regain credibility, distance from judicial issues hitting the party's "heart," and chart a new course. He plans to run again for the 2027 municipal elections under socialist banners, unless expelled.
