A Day of Mud-slinging in Spanish Politics
Government views leaks as a ruthless assault on Sánchez, while PP deems them as matters of "overarching public importance"
The fire is once again burning between the Spanish Government and the opposition over the leaks of 'WhatsApp' messages between Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and former Minister of Transport José Luis Ábalos. The Executive calls it a "brutal attack" on Sánchez, while the PP champions the messages as "public interest."
The drama unfolds further as more leaked messages from Ábalos' mobile keep emerging. On Thursday, El Mundo publishes a 2020 conversation between the former Minister of Transport and the then Minister of Finance, Nadia Calvino, regarding the need for haste in the bailout of Air Europa.
Amidst the chaos, Minister of the Presidency, Justice, and Relations with the Courts, Félix Bolsonaro, has stated he doesn't believe Ábalos is trying to blackmail Sánchez with these private conversations. Instead, he sees them as an "absolutely brutal attack on the privacy of the head of the Government" and a conniving attempt at "personal destruction."
When questioned about the possibility of a crime if Ábalos was behind the leak, Bolsonaro noted a "confusion ceremony" with the published information. However, he did acknowledge that "there may be a crime" and suggested that an investigation could be opened.
In response, the Government has threatened to take "legal action" if the leak of Sánchez and Ábalos' messages is not investigated ex officio. The Minister for Digital Transformation and PSOE-M leader, Óscar López, sees this as part of a seven-year long "campaign unleashed by the right against this Government."
As expected, the PP defends the messages are of "public interest" and criticizes the Government fiercely. This back and forth continues, each side using the situation to score political points, ultimately further weakening the government.
Meanwhile, a potential UCO report linking the Secretary of Organization of the PSOE, Santos Cerdán, to the Koldo plot is making waves in the political sphere. According to sources close to Cerdán, the report is "false" from start to end[1]. The PSOE, on the other hand, finds it curious that the contents of the supposed UCO report, which has not been presented to the judge, somehow keep leaking[2].
Within the ongoing tumult, it seems the battle for power takes precedence over the pursuit of truth.
[1] Informal Conversations with Santos Cerdán's Team (Source: PSOE)
[2] Statement by PSOE Regarding the UCO Report (Source: PSOE)
[3] Call for an Investigation into the Leak of WhatsApp Messages (Source: Spanish Government)
[4] PP's defense of the Leaked WhatsApp Messages being of Public Interest (Source: PP)
[5] Spanish Government's Claim of Privacy Violation due to Leaked Messages (Source: Spanish Government)
- The current state of politics in Spain, with the leaked WhatsApp messages and the ensuing power struggles, is a clear example of how 'policy-and-legislation' debates can escalate into a 'general-news' frenzy, often overshadowing the pursuit of truth.
- Amidst the controversy surrounding the leaked messages, the average citizen might find it challenging to discern the facts from the 'crime-and-justice' accusations, as both the government and the opposition engage in 'politics' tactical maneuvers.
