Sánchez’s government faces another difficult reshuffle

5 months ago 19

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will likely be forced into another difficult government reshuffle, as Ecological Transition Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Teresa Ribera was appointed to lead his socialist party’s list for the European elections.

Spain’s government – which underwent a similar reshuffle in January following the departure of former economy minister Nadia Calviño, now president of the European Investment Bank (EIB) – faces another major challenge with Ribera’s likely departure from the executive in June, as the Ecological Transition portfolio is one of the most important in Sánchez’s government.

In fact, one of the star measures put forward by Ribera at EU level was the approval of the so-called “Iberian derogation” – an exceptional measure limiting the gas price for electricity generation in Spain and Portugal.

According to several analysts in Madrid, Ribera’s appointment is a clear personal bet by Sánchez.

The Spanish prime minister’s “green” and feminist rhetoric has been evident since he first came to power in 2018, and he has demonstrated it over the years with the appointment of several women to top state posts on climate issues.

According to PSOE sources, Ribera’s appointment is also about Madrid sending out the message that the country is committed to climate policy, particularly in contrast to far-right parties such as VOX, the third largest force in the Spanish parliament, which deny climate change, as do other far-right parties in the EU.

Tie between the PSOE and the PP

By appointing Ribera, Sánchez also aims to win votes in the left-wing camp, traditionally very keen to push forward “green” policies, currently represented in Spain by the platform Sumar, the government’s far-left junior partner, and by its rival, the almost defunct Podemos.

However, despite the optimism, according to the latest polls, PSOE’s prospects for the European elections look gloomy.

According to an opinion poll by the state-run Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (CIS) released on Tuesday, the PSOE would tie with the Spanish Partido Popular (PP/EPP), the main opposition force. The PSOE is predicted to gather 19.3% of the votes, while the PP – 19.2%, EFE reported.

In the 2019 European elections, the PSOE won 21 seats in the European Parliament – eight more than the PP.

(Fernando Heller | EuroEFE.Euractiv.es)