PM Sánchez dismisses calling early elections: ‘It’s an honour to govern even in these circumstances’

Speaking in the city of Cáceres at a rally ahead of Sunday’s regional elections in Extremadura, Sánchez dismissed the idea of calling snap elections. He said it remained ‘an honour to govern, even under these circumstances’, and made clear he intends to remain in office.

In recent weeks, several cases involving local PSOE officials have come to light, following the earlier removal of Francisco Salazar — a close aide to Sánchez — from his role in the prime minister’s office over what was described as ‘inappropriate sexual behaviour’. ALSO READ: Sánchez battles to control PSOE crisis, as claims of sexual harassment force a new resignation.

Women who filed complaints against Salazar have since alleged that the party took months to respond after they reported the incidents. ALSO READ: Facing fallout among women voters over sex scandals, the PSOE tighten harassment protocols.

‘The commitment to feminism of the government and the socialist party is absolute,’ Sánchez said on Monday.

Addressing supporters at a rally overshadowed by allegations of both corruption and sexual misconduct within the PSOE, Sánchez defended his government’s record and expressed strong backing for the party’s candidate in Extremadura, Miguel Ángel Gallardo, whose electoral prospects look challenging according to opinion polls.

Sánchez admitted that there had been ‘mistakes’, but argued that ‘all progress in matters of equality between men and women has always been achieved under progressive governments’. He rejected criticism from the right-wing People’s Party (PP) and far-right Vox opposition, saying he would accept ‘no lessons’ from them.

A key message from the rally was Sánchez’s insistence that there will be no early general election. ‘When I get asked whether I am tired, I say that this government is tireless. To govern means facing up to problems and providing solutions,’ he said.

As the crowd in Cáceres chanted ‘presidente, presidente!’, Sánchez repeated that ‘it is an honour to govern, even in these circumstances’. He highlighted increases in pensions and the minimum wage achieved during the PSOE’s time in power, and defended the government’s policies on protecting women from gender-based violence. ‘Of course, having a progressive government pays off,’ he added. ALSO READ: Spanish government proposes including the right to abortion in the constitution.

On that basis, Sánchez argued there was no justification for bringing elections forward, despite the recent revelations affecting his party. He mocked opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo of the PP for repeatedly calling for early polls, noting that similar demands in 2019 and 2023 had failed. Sánchez stressed that the next general election would take place as scheduled, in around a year and a half.

He nonetheless addressed the two main controversies facing the PSOE. On sexual harassment, Sánchez said the party had been the first to declare itself feminist and the first to establish an internal anti-harassment protocol. ‘We have made mistakes, like everyone else,’ he said, while insisting the party had acted with ‘decisiveness and transparency’ in response to recent cases.

Turning to corruption, Sánchez said any such behaviour represented a ‘betrayal of the principles of the PSOE’. He contrasted his party’s approach with that of the right.

‘But the difference with the PP is that we have extirpated the cases while, on the right, there is collusion with them. Or has Feijóo forgotten that he is head of the PP because his predecessor, Casado, denounced the cases of corruption linked to Ayuso? What lessons are they going to give us?’ he asked. ALSO READ: Spanish PM denies corruption in rowdy senate hearing, calling it a ‘circus’ and ‘witch hunt’.

The prime minister did not refer by name to José Luis Ábalos, Santos Cerdán, Koldo García, Leire Díez, Francisco Salazar — his former adviser at La Moncloa — or any of the figures connected to the most recent corruption or harassment allegations involving the PSOE. ALSO READ: Spain’s former transport minister detained without bail in corruption investigation.

Sánchez closed by urging voters in Extremadura to back Gallardo, telling supporters that ‘the future is not written and every vote counts’.

Gallardo is currently facing prosecution over alleged prevarication and influence peddling linked to the hiring of David Sánchez, the prime minister’s brother, for a position at the Badajoz provincial authority during Gallardo’s tenure as its head. ALSO READ: Trial of Spanish PM’s brother for alleged corruption postponed until late May.

‘In our party, there is no room for those who say they are comrades, but who are whoremongers, who are abusers,’ Gallardo said. He also predicted an upset at the polls on 21 December.

‘The right is going to be surprised,’ he said, adding: ‘Extremadura has never fared well with the right. Neither in democracy nor in dictatorship. The policies that really boosted this land were made by the Socialist governments.’

María Guardiola from the PP is the current regional president of Extremadura, after she was elected with the support of Vox in June 2023. She has called elections in the region after failing to obtain support from Vox or the PSOE for the 2026 regional budget. ALSO READ: Extremadura becomes third region of Spain to be jointly governed by PP & Vox.